The Ogun State Government has criticized Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, over his unruly behaviour towards officials of the State Planning and Development Permit Authority.
The PUNCH reported that the incident occurred at Portable’s bar located around Iyana Ilogbo in the Sango Ota area of Ogun State.
The government officials were allegedly attacked during their official duty at the location.
In a statement on Friday, the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, described Portable as a “serial dissident and unrepentant rascal” who has made a habit of assaulting government officials without provocation.
Akinmade condemned the attack, labeling it “unacceptable and barbaric.”
He noted that Portable’s continuous misconduct was disgraceful and intolerable to both the government and residents of the area, stressing that such indecent behaviour would be addressed according to the law.
“The behaviour of the Hip-hop artiste is becoming disgraceful and unbearable to the people of the area and the government, considering the degree of pandemonium and panic he causes any time he carried out such unpleasant acts in the area,” he added.
Akinmade reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to upholding law and order, emphasizing the importance of the Omoluabi values deeply rooted in the state’s culture.
He stated, “We are profoundly taken aback by the unpleasant and uncivil act of the Hip-hop artiste, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable on Wednesday, in Iyana-Ilogbo area of the state where his bar is located.
“The way in which Portable and some set of miscreants he employed in the dastardly act attacked the officials of the OGPDPA is not only bizarre but a confirmation of erosion of Omoluabi ethos in those individuals and indeed a great disgrace to the state.
“Governor Dapo Abiodun totally condemned this primitive and indecent act and reiterated his avowed commitment to just and egalitarian society as he is ready to make any individual flouting the extant law of the land to face the full wrath of the law irrespective of social status and influence.”
It should be recalled that on Thursday, the Ogun State Police Command arraigned nine of Portable’s associates at the Magistrates’ Court in Isabo, Abeokuta, for allegedly assaulting officials from the Ota Zonal Planning Office of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The individuals arraigned include Nurudeen Warris, 21; Adetola Alashe, 25; Samuel Adeleke, 28; Oluwaseun Ayenuwa, 19; Oluwapelumi Adeosun, 20; Gospel Kanu, 20; Precious Ohiegebo, 19; Ifeoluwa Babatunde, 27; and Fatimo Muhammed, 26.
The defendants, who were charged with felony, assault, and obstruction, as well as being armed with dangerous weapons, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
They also faced accusations of conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and an intent to kill.
