Police dismiss Portable’s ‘madman’ claims, insist singer remains wanted
The Ogun State Police Command has dismissed claims by controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, of being in psychiatric treatment, insisting that he remains a wanted man.
Portable, in a video on Tuesday, declared that he is a “madman” and undergoing treatment at the Federal Neuropsychiatric, Aro, Abeokuta.
He said this while appealing to Nigerians and the Ogun State Government after being declared wanted by the state police command.
Speaking to PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, maintained that Portable remained wanted and would turn himself in for investigation.
She said, “Portable will come and submit himself. He cannot be in the psychiatric hospital in Aro. Everybody knows that he is a wanted person. So, if he is going to be in anybody’s facility, the police will not accept that. He is a wanted man.”
The singer was reportedly involved in a violent altercation with 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—during an enforcement exercise at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota, Ogun State.
According to the officials, they initially encountered Portable’s father at Odogwu Bar, where he informed them that his son was unavailable. Moments later, the controversial singer allegedly arrived armed with a firearm and, along with nine thugs, launched an attack on the unarmed officials.
The police reported that the enforcement officers sustained injuries but managed to escape and report the incident to the Ota Area Command, which escalated the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department. While nine of Portable’s alleged accomplices were arrested, the singer reportedly fled the scene and has since gone into hiding.
Odutola had in the statement declaring him wanted stated that multiple formal invitations were sent to Portable, requesting his presence at the command’s headquarters but deliberately ignored them without offering any legal representation.
“Following his repeated evasion, the Ogun State Police Command has obtained a valid court order declaring him wanted,” she added.
Reacting to the allegations, Portable took to Instagram on Tuesday in a series of rants, claiming that he was being set up because he wore a vest featuring the image of the lawmaker representing Ogun West, Senator Adeola Solomon, popularly known as Yayi. He also reiterated that he is mentally unstable and has a medical history at the psychiatric hospital.
“I fear government. I am Federal Government liability. I am a madman; I have medications that I usually take. You can confirm from Aro Hospital. I have a card that certifies me as one of their patients.
“I am from Abeokuta, and they are taking care of me there. I am not a thief; I help people around me without even looking at their background,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Special Assistant to Senator Adeola on New Media, Damilare Oloyede, has distanced the lawmaker from Portable’s predicament.
Oloyede who spoke to our correspondent on Tuesday urged the singer to take responsibility for his actions, adding that name-dropping won’t help him evade justice.
He said, “Portable should be responsible for once. Senator Yayi won’t help him in this predicament that’s purely a result of his irresponsibility, lack of decorum, and sheer display of lunacy (as confirmed by himself). How does one think name-dropping of Senator Yayi would help him evade justice after being declared wanted by law enforcement agencies?”
“For the umpteenth time, Senator Yayi is a law-abiding public servant. He is a responsible leader to his constituents, followers, and admirers. Hence, he won’t, can’t, and will never tolerate irresponsible acts around him,” Oloyede concluded.
