Since hitting fame with his street-hop single ‘Zazoo Zeh’ in 2021, singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly called Portable, has not left the headlines. His staying power is not related to anything music, but to his many controversies.
Track news looks at the various times Dr Zeh has been involved in controversies.
Portable vs Poco lee
Barely a week after his song ‘Zazoo’ blew up, Portable was caught in a battle of words with one of his collaborators, Iweh Pascal Odinaka, popularly known as Poco lee.
The duo fell out after Portable accused Poco Lee of ripping him off the $3,000 Grammy award-winning singer, Wizkid sprayed him while performing at the Wizkid Livespot Concert. He claimed he got only $600.
He also dragged Poco Lee for hijacking his song, ‘Zazoo’. “Na me get Zazoo!,” he fumed in a tense Tiktok video.
According to reports, Poco lee, a dancer and hypeman, linked Portable with indigenous rap mogul, Olamide who delivered a verse on ‘Zazoo Zehh’.
Following the release of the song on the 14th of December 2021, it introduced Poco Lee as the owner of the song, while indicating Portable and Olamide as featured acts.
It didn’t go down well with the singer who dragged the dancer in the mud online. His action led to his promoter, Quadri Taoreed, aka Kogbagidi, evicting him from the hotel he rented for him.
Poco lee later came out to say he didn’t rip the singer as claimed. He shared the money among the team.
The trio finally reconciled after Portable tendered an apology.
Portable vs DJ Chicken
On 20 June 2022, the Ogun State Police Command gave Portable 48 hours to report himself at the nearest police post or be arrested.
He was summoned after his former Disc Jockey, DJ Chicken filed a case of assault against him.
In a viral video posted online, the singer and his men were seen assaulting the DJ.
Portable, who spoke in Yoruba, accused DJ Chicken of sending a message to his wife.
The ‘Zazoo’ crooner turned himself in 10 days after the police invitation in the company of his father and manager. He was later released on bail after interrogation.
‘One Million Boys’ Saga!
Portable landed in yet another controversy in July 2022, after he boasted of establishing two notorious armed robbery gangs, ‘One Million Boys’ and ‘Ajah Boys’ in Lagos State.
“Have you heard of Ajah Boys, One Million Boys? I established them. Go and ask Sammy Larry,” he said in a viral video.
Consequently, the organizers of Headies Awards stripped him of the Best Street Artist, and Rookie of the Year nominations.
His reckless utterances also landed him under the radar of the Lagos State Police Command which has vowed to proceed with a preliminary investigation following his claims of being the founding member of terror gangs.
However, he was never arrested over the weighty claims.
Portable vs Small Doctor
In December 2022, Portable ignited a feud with his colleague, Adekunle Temitope, better known as Small Doctor, after he alleged that the ‘Penalty’ crooner once set him up.
During an Instagram live session, Portable alleged that Small Doctor once sent thugs to ambush him in a bid to make himself seem like his saviour.
He slammed Small Doctor for never assisting up-and-coming artists and for trying to use him to make a name for himself.
Portable later mended fences with Small Doctor, following the intervention of popular socialite, Abel Egbarin.
Portable vs Nigeria Police
The latest controversy surrounding the singer is the mild drama between him and some Policemen on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
In a viral video, the ‘Zazoo’ crooner was seen resisting arrest by police officers who stormed his bar in the Sango-Ota area of Ogun State.
He claimed in the viral video that an internet fraudster had brought the police to his bar to arrest him and his staff members “for no reason”.
Portable told the policemen that he is a “superstar” and works for the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, so he can’t be arrested.
Consequently, the Ogun State Police Command on Wednesday gave Portable 72 hours to turn himself in or be arrested.
The command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi said the singer had refused to honour the police invitation on five occasions.
He said following his refusal to honour the invitation, the police approached a court to get an arrest warrant against him, but on sighting the officers, “Portable stripped himself naked to create a scene.”
The PPRO added, “Portable is not bigger than the law. We are going to use minimum force to arrest him.”
