The ‘Zazoo Zeh’ crooner was reported to have bought a vehicle worth ₦27 million but paid only ₦13 million, with ₦14 million balance.
The Lagos State Police Command has released popular street singer Habeeb Okikiola, best known as Portable, after the artiste passed a night in police cell.
Portable was arrested on Tuesday in the Abule Egba area of Lagos for allegedly refusing to pay the balance of a G-Wagon vehicle he purchased from a car dealer.
The ‘Zazoo Zeh’ crooner was reported to have bought the vehicle worth ₦27 million but paid only ₦13 million, with ₦14 million balance.
In a viral video, Portable was seen to have scaled a gate after policemen approached him with an arrest warrant to follow them. Another viral video, however, showed him being dragged, handcuffed and wheelbarrowed by about four policemen into a waiting vehicle.
In the ensuing melee, the voice of a lady, who identified herself as the car dealer, was heard in the background, spewing expletives and telling how Portable threatened her when she demanded that he discharge the debt.
Police spokesman in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin, told Channels Television, that the singer was granted bail on Wednesday after passing Tuesday night in police custody.
He said the singer and the car dealer are expected to return on a later date.
“He (Portable) has been released; he was granted bail on Wednesday to come back with the complainant later,” Hundeyin said, adding that “the outcome of that meeting will determine our next line of action.”
This is not the singer’s first ordeal with the police. In April 2023, the ‘Zazoo Zeh’ crooner was arrested by the police in Ogun State and arraigned on five counts bordering on alleged assault and stealing at the Ifo Magistrate Court, in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State. He was remanded at the Ilaro Correctional Centre thereafter but released after meeting his bail conditions.
Converts recent arrest into song
Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable is back in the studio after his release from police custody.
The singer, on Thursday, shared a snippet of soon to be released new song – “Spiderman” in response to his arrest for defaulting on the payment plan for his G-Wagon SUV.
Produced by 2tuponthebeat, the song alludes to the singer’s flying power in relation to how he jumped over a gate to evade arrest.
The incident captured in a video that circulated on Tuesday, the singer dressed in a white and black stripe shirt standing alongside eight other people, was seen climbing over a near gate before taking to his heels.
After spending 24 hours in custody, the “Zazuu” crooner regained his freedom after meeting the bail conditions set for his release.
Tuesday’s episode is not the first in Portable controversial diary.
Sometime in March 2023, the Ogun State Police Command arrested the famous singer for cursing and rough handling some men of the Nigeria Police Force in two video clips that went viral.
The police, during a probe of the incident, invited Portable, who refused to honour the invitation. Enraged by his audacity, the police issued a 72-hour ultimatum and subsequently arrested him.
In another development, the singer was also arrested by policemen in Ogun State and later arraigned on five counts bordering on alleged assault and stealing at the Ifo Magistrates’ Court.
He was remanded at the Ilaro Correctional Centre and later released after meeting his bail conditions.
