Controversial Nigerian hip-hop artiste Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has avoided a three-month jail term after paying a N30,000 court-imposed fine.
On Tuesday, a Chief Magistrate Court in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, presided over by Magistrate Babajide Ilo, convicted the singer on two counts of assault. Portable was sentenced to one month in prison with an option of a N10,000 fine on the first count and two months with a N20,000 fine option on the second count. He promptly paid the fine, evading time behind bars.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Olumide Awoleke, had earlier told the court that Portable assaulted one Osimosu Emmanuel Oluwafemi on November 18, 2022, in the Okeosa, Ilogbo area. According to the charge sheet, Portable and others who remain at large were also accused of conspiracy to commit assault.
The charge also included an allegation that Portable stole several musical items, including a Yamaha H55 studio monitor, a complete Studio 2 interface connection cable, and an AKG P420 condenser microphone. However, the court only found him guilty on the first two counts.
Portable was initially arraigned in April 2023 on a three-count charge involving assault and theft, listed under charge sheet No. MIF/192C/2023. He was granted bail of N300,000 with two sureties from his family but reportedly failed to appear in court afterward.
Following his absence, he was arrested and remanded in a correctional facility. He was returned to court on Tuesday when the final judgment was delivered.
