Controversial singer, Habeem Okikiola, better known as Portable, has been disqualified from this year’s edition of The Headies awards.
The organizers of the awards disqualified his nomination following controversy and investigation by the Nigeria Police Force, after allegedly claiming to be connected to a criminal group known as ‘one million boys’.
On May 24, Portable was nominated for the ‘Best Street Artist’ and ‘Rookie of the Year categories.
He was expected to compete with Av, Fave, Magixx, and Ugoccie in the ‘Rookie of the Year category. While for the second category, he was nominated against Bella Shmurda, Mohbad, Naira Marley, and Goya Menor among others.
Immediately after the nominations were unveiled, Portable claimed his co-nominees at The Headies are no match for him.
He also threatened to kill anyone who wins any of the categories in his place.
In its reaction, organizers of the awards threatened to disqualify him if he failed to withdraw his statement and issue an apology on his social media pages.
Portable had initially insulted the award organizers, saying they “nominated a mad man musician”.
The singer thereafter apologized for his “unguarded utterance” which he said was harmless.
But in a statement released on Tuesday evening, the award organizers said Portable was disqualified because he is “a subject of an investigation relating to criminal activities.”
The organizers also brought up a claim he made that he’s the founder of ‘One million Boys’, a suspected cult group in Lagos, as another reason for his disqualification.
The statement reads “We regret to announce that following numerous indicting statements made by Mr. Habeeb Okikiola popularly knowns as “Portable”, and the incessant negative attention that Mr. Okikiola has garnered from the Nigeria Police and the general public in recent times, the organizers of the Headies have resolved to disqualify Mr. Okikiola as a nominee at the forthcoming 15th Headies Awards.
“The decision to disqualify him is accentuated by a series of misdemeanors by Mr. Okikiola via his social media platforms. On the 25th of May 2022, he threatened to kill, harm, or cause harm to the other nominees in the same categories of awards he was nominated for, if he does not emerge the winner, precisely.
“Smooth Promotions Limited, the organizers of the Headies Awards is a law-abiding and responsible organization that abhors any form of violence, unlawful or activities ravaging our society.
“We shall not condone reckless and uncouth statements from artists and hereby disassociate ourselves from any individual linked to such assembly or activities including Mr. Okikiola’s prospects as long as these acts are sufficiently linked to him as described.
“The music industry demands all-around excellence. Young artists need to be potential role models to exude professional responsibility, proper decorum, and respect for others.
“Being subject of an investigation relating to criminal activities, Mr. Habeeb Okikiola is hereby disqualified from both categories of awards Annual Headies Awards scheduled to hold later this year namely: Best Street Artist and Rookie of the Year.”
Since he came into the spotlight, Portable has been in the news for controversial reasons.
Recently, the Ogun state police command had invited him for allegedly asking his team to brutalize a young man.
