Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Olalomi Okikiola Badmus better known as Portable, was born on March 12, 1994, in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The singer gained prominence with his 2021 hit single “ZaZoo Zehh” featuring rapper Olamide and Poco Lee.
Since his breakthrough, his career has been riddled with multiple controversies, including public disputes with fellow artistes and allegations of violent behaviour, leading to a history of being arrested and subsequently released.
Unbothered, Portable seems to thrive on controversy, even tapping music inspiration from trending issues, particularly his predicaments and has continued to maintain his career alongside multiple run-ins with the law, making headlines for various legal troubles.
WITHIN NIGERIA takes you through all the notable times Portable was arrested and or had encounters with law enforcement:
- July 2022 – Portable as alleged leader of cult
In July 2022, the police force ordered an investigation into Portable’s statement where he initially claimed to be the leader of the notorious 1-million boys cult.
The commissioner of Police in response tweeted in part: “Cultism: Police to Investigate Portable over the formation of One Million Boys Sequel to the trending video of one Habeeb Okikiola aka Portable where he claimed to have formed the One-Million Boys cult group terrorising some parts of Lagos State.”
However, Portable who was disqualified from the Headies award that year later retracted his statement, luckily escaping an arrest.
- March 2023 – Portable fails to honour police invitation.
Just a few months after his words about being a cultist almost got him in trouble, Portable was arrested for ignoring a 72-hour ultimatum given by the Ogun State Police Command to turn himself in.
The singer was taken into custody on Friday, March 31, 2023 by the State Police Command and consequently arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on assault on Monday morning.
After Portable was docked, the court adjourned the matter to April 26, 2023, and ordered that the singer be kept at Ilaro Correctional Centre till he perfects his N300,000 bail conditions.
This followed allegations that he assaulted his apprentice and an upcoming artiste, Osimosu Emmanuel, a.k.a Manny Monie, at his Odogwu Bar, in Ogun State, with the latter logging a complaint with the police.
After multiple invitations from the police which he flouted, two videos surfaced on the Internet showing the musician raining curses and manhandling some police officers who accosted him over the issue.
Following his alleged misconduct, the Force Headquarters in Abuja, through its spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, revealed that the singer’s action was unruly and punishable under the law. This was immediately followed by a press statement by the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Oyeyemi, asking the singer to either turn himself in at any police station in the state within 72 hours, or face police arrest once the ultimatum elapsed.
Reacting, Portable claimed that an alleged Internet fraudster brought the police officers to his bar to arrest him and his staff members “for no reason.”
Oyeyemi explained that the police moved to arrest Portable after five invites were sent to him and another through his father, but he never honoured any of the summons.
He further disclosed the Zazu crooner was invited following a petition by a young studio owner, Manny Monie who claimed that Portable together with his aides beat him to stupor and locked his studio.
- April 2024 – Naira abuse: EFCC vs Portable
In April 2024, crossdresser Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky and socialite Pascal Okechukwu better known as Cubana chief priest were arrested and charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged Naira abuse.
After seeing the punishment (6months imprisonment) meted out to Bobrisky, the Zazzu zeh singer went live on Instagram to plead with the anti-graft agency for forgiveness. He confessed to being guilty of spraying Naira notes and promised not to repeat such. His words, “I help a lot of people; after God is Government, Please forgive me if you have videos of me spraying money; no more spraying of money.”
The EFCC however did not respond to his statement, thereby escaping arrest by the whiskers.
- May 2024 – Portable in G-Wagon debt
Despite promising to keep his head above water, Portable became a trending topic after getting arrested on May 14, 2024, over a debt he reportedly incurred after buying a ₦27 million G-Wagon from a motor dealer.
The Lagos State Police Command arrested Portable, following a petition from the car dealer.
According to the Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, the singer, who appears to thrive on controversies, allegedly purchased a G-Wagon worth ₦27 million from the car dealer, made a down payment of ₦13 million, and took the vehicle away with the promise to pay the balance.
Afterwards, the dealer asked the singer to return the car or pay the ₦14 million balance, but Portable allegedly refused, claiming the vehicle was faulty.
This prompted the car dealer to report the 31-year-old to the police after all attempts to secure his balance proved unsuccessful.
Following a petition from the dealer, the police moved in and arrested the singer. Videos circulating across social media platforms show Portable being spoken to by policemen who read his warrant out to him, right before he swiftly leapt over a gate and sprinted off. Another video showed the moment he resisted after being apprehended by the policemen who carried him to their patrol vehicle.
- February 2025 – Assault: Portable vs Ogun State government
About a month into the new year, Portable again got physical, ultimately leading to his arrest and a fresh round of legal battle. He was declared wanted by the Ogun State Police Command after he and his associates allegedly attacked government officials at his bar in Iyana Ilogbo.
According to the police, the assault incident occurred on February 5, 2025, around 10 a.m. when three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ota Zonal Office – TPL Onabanjo Abidemi, TPL Raymond Lateef, and TPL Ridwan Oyero Akinlesi – were conducting an enforcement exercise at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota.
During the exercise, the officials encountered an elderly man, later identified as Portable’s father, at Odogwu Bar, a property linked to the singer.
Upon introducing themselves and requesting the building’s approved plan, Portable’s father informed them that his son was unavailable.
“However, moments later, Portable, armed with a firearm and other dangerous weapons, led a gang of nine thugs in a violent attack on the unarmed officials. The enforcement officers sustained various bodily injuries but managed to escape and reported the incident to the Ota Area Command, which subsequently escalated the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further action.
“Nine accomplices were arrested, but Portable fled the scene and has since gone into hiding. Multiple formal invitations were sent to him, requesting his presence at the Ogun State Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, which he deliberately ignored without cause or legal representation.
“Following his repeated evasion, the Ogun State Police Command has obtained a valid court order declaring him wanted”, the Police statement read in part.
Portable remained at large until February 19, 2025 when he turned himself in to the police in Lagos State, after he was declared wanted.
The Ogun State Police Command confirmed Portable’s voluntary surrender. His arrival was communicated in a press statement issued by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, in Abeokuta. It read:
“We wish to inform the public that Habeeb Okikiola, also known as Portable, arrived at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, at exactly 13:23 hours today, February 19, 2025.”
On February 29, he was arraigned at the Isabo High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The singer faced a five-count charge, including conspiracy, assault, restriction, being armed with cutlasses and guns, and conduct likely to cause harm. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Magistrate O. L. Oke granted the singer bail in the sum of ₦2 million with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case.
- March 2025 – Saheed Osupa vs Portable
Portable had barely escaped the clutches of the Ogun State government before getting embroiled in a brouhaha with veteran fuji musician, Okunola Saheed, popularly called Saheed Osupa.
On March 19, Portable in a video shared on his Instagram page taunted Osupa with his physique.
Speaking in Yoruba language, Portable described Osupa as a big-for-nothing fellow, berating him for not being supportive of him and his career.
The Zeh Nation label boss however sang praises of Saheed Osupa’s colleague and rival, Pasuma, who he said embraced him like a child.
Portable’s outburst came amid claims that Osupa reported the former’s song on Spotify and other streaming platforms for copyright infringement, and it was taken down. Portable said in part:
“Saheed Osupa, you are just big for nothing. If you are not ready to embrace me, I will drag you. You sing Fuji while I sing hip hop. This is why I love Paso, he embraced me like his own child. He is a good man. You are senseless.”
In reaction, Osupa petitioned the police, accusing Portable of criminal defamation, criminal intimidation, inciting public disturbance and cyberstalking.
Acting on Osupa’s petition, the Kwara State Police command dragged Portable before a Kwara State Upper Area Court in Ilorin.
Potable was arraigned for offences deemed contrary and punishable under Section 392 (Criminal Defamation), Section 114 (Inciting Disturbance), Section 397 (Criminal Intimidation) of the Penal Code and Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, as well as Sections 10 and 13 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.
The petition held that Portable, during a live Instagram broadcast on March 19, 2025, made defamatory remarks against Osupa, accusing him of jealousy and attempts to sabotage his career.
The presiding magistrate, Sunday Adeniyi had admitted Portable to bail in the sum of ₦1m and 2 sureties out of which one of them must be chairman of the Performing Musician Association of Nigeria while the other must own landed property in the Government Reserve Area within the jurisdiction of the Court.
Portable was unable to perfect his bail condition on Monday and was remanded at the federal correctional facility, Oke Kura, Ilorin.
However, respite came the way of Portable on Tuesday when Osupa, through his solicitor, Opalekunde Ahmed filed for withdrawal of the case. Osupa’s solicitor said his client mandated him to withdraw the case following intervention, and pleas from notable stakeholders.
He said Osupa was resorting to settling the case with Portable out of court.
The withdrawal letter, however, conveyed Osupa’s warning that Portable desists from further publications, or utterances disparaging his person.
The withdrawal letter read, “We hereby on behalf of our client apply to withdraw the case against the defendant and terminate same accordingly as the matter had been resolved amicably.
“Further, sir, we want to pray the court to admonish and warn the defendant to desist from any further publications, utterances and any other acts aiming at disparaging the person and businesses of the nominal complainant.”
Portable was released and left Ilorin, Kwara state, Tuesday afternoon.
- April 2025 – Portable escapes re-arrest
As if to prove that bygones were bygones, Osupa prevented Portable from being re-arrested by the Managing Director of Starwood Hotels, Ilorin after the hiphop singer allegedly collected the sum of ₦6.3m for a show that he did not perform months ago.
In the new development, Managing Director of the hotel, Mr Yemi George, said on Tuesday that Osupa prevailed on him not to re-arrest Portable after collecting the sum of N6.3m for a show that he did not perform.
“I have obtained every necessary document to re-arrest him today (Tuesday) to refund my money but out of respect for the legendary fuji musician (Osupa) who prevailed on me not to.
“My company, Starwood Hotels O2 Arena in collaboration with the leadership of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria put an event together for Portable to perform but he never did,” George said.
According to a document titled ‘petition for fraudulent and obtaining by false pretence the sum of ₦6.3m’, the petitioners said they entered agreement with Portable on July 22, 2024, which he never respected.
According to the petition, Portable was paid ₦6.3m to perform at the ‘Kwara Tampan Fiesta’ on September 29, 2024, but failed to appear on stage at the agreed-upon time.
Despite arriving over 16 hours late, he allegedly sneaked out of his hotel lodge without fulfilling his promise to perform.
The petitioners claim that Portable’s actions caused significant financial loss and distress, and are seeking a thorough investigation, prosecution and restitution of the ₦6.3 million allegedly obtained through fraudulent means.
- April 2025 – Portable remanded, sentenced to 3-months imprisonment
Portable’s woes were not over as shortly after his release in Ilorin, he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by Chief Magistrate Babajide Ilo in Ogun State.
This was due to an April 2023 case. The singer was arraigned before the Magistrates’ Court in Ifo on a three-count charge relating to assault and the theft of musical instruments, as outlined in his charge sheet No. MIF/192C/2023.
The singer was subsequently granted bail in the sum of ₦300,000, with two sureties from his immediate family.
Fast-forward to 2025, Portable after repeatedly failing to appear in court despite multiple adjournment, was re-arrested on Thursday, April 24, 2025 and remanded at the state Correctional Service until Tuesday’s judgement.
The Police prosecutor, Inspector Olumide Awoleke, had earlier informed the court that the defendant, Habeeb Okikiola, committed the offence on 18 November 2022 at approximately 11 am in Okeosa, Ilogbo, within the Ifo Magisterial District. The charge sheet stated:
“That you, Badmus Habeeb Okikiola a.k.a. Portable, and others now at large, on the 18th day of November 2022 at 11:00 hrs in Okeosa, Ilogbo, within the Ifo Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit a felony to wit: assault, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
“That you, Habeeb Okikiola Olalomi, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned district, did unlawfully assault one Osimosu Emmanuel Oluwafemi, by beating him all over his body, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”
A third charge accused the singer of stealing studio equipment, including a Yamaha H55 monitor and an AKG P420 microphone, but the court only found him guilty of assault and conspiracy.
Chief Magistrate Ilo, who ruled that Portable was guilty of counts 1 and 2, sentenced the defendant to one month’s imprisonment with an option of a N10,000 fine for Count 1 and two months’ imprisonment with an option of a N20,000 fine for Count 2.
Portable opted to pay the fine, securing his release.
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