Street-hop sensation and self-styled "wahala" crooner, Habeeb Okikiola, better known by fans as Portable, has managed to sidestep a three-month jail sentence after paying a court-imposed fine of ₦30,000 following his conviction in an assault case.

The judgment was delivered on Tuesday at the Ifo Magistrate Court in Ogun State, where Chief Magistrate Babajide Ilo found the controversial artist guilty of conspiracy to assault and unlawful assault. The case, rooted in a 2022 altercation, had lingered in the courts following several delays and the singer’s repeated absence from hearings.

According to court documents and police testimony, Portable, alongside others still at large, physically assaulted Osimosu Emmanuel Oluwafemi on November 18, 2022, around 11 a.m. in the Okeosa, Ilogbo area within the Ifo Magisterial District. The prosecution also accused the singer of stealing valuable studio equipment during the incident — including a Yamaha H55 monitor, interface cables, and an AKG P420 microphone. However, the theft charge did not hold in court.

The singer was handed a one-month sentence with an option of ₦10,000 fine for conspiracy to assault, and two months or a ₦20,000 fine for the assault itself. Predictably, the artist chose to pay the fine, walking away with a lighter punishment that’s raised eyebrows about celebrity accountability in Nigeria's justice system.

The case, registered under Charge No: MIF/192C/2023, saw Portable initially arraigned in April 2023. He was granted bail at the time, set at ₦300,000 with two sureties from his family. But his courtroom antics took a twist after he repeatedly failed to appear in court, leading to his remand in custody last week.

Portable's return to court on Tuesday was low on drama, as he quietly opted for the fine, avoiding prison but not the court's judgment.

This case, though involving a high-profile figure, sheds light on deeper issues in Nigeria’s legal system — where wealth or fame can often mean freedom. While the court’s ruling followed due process, many observers question whether ordinary citizens would receive the same leniency.

As for Portable, the artist may have left the courtroom free — but the controversy that trails him continues to build.



By WafricNews Desk.