The organisers of Nigeria’s most glamorous music award, Headies, have removed the name of fast-rising musician, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly called Portable, from the list of nominees for the 2022 award ceremony over alleged involvement in crime and threatening to kill his fellow 2022 nominees.
Headies said that the decision to remove the fast-rising singer from its nominee list was taken after much deliberation on his activities particularly as it concerns his series of misdemeanors through social media platforms.
According to the organisers, the decision was to further pass a strong message that it does not support any action that could cause panic, reckless and uncouth statements.
In a letter signed by the award organiser’s secretary and made available to newsmen on Tuesday, it stressed that the music industry required that all artistes must maintain decorum and respect others as they go about in their daily activities.
Headies disclosed that the young singer was nominated alongside other artiste for two major categories including Best Street Artist and Rookie of the Year but has been disqualified.
The disqualification came days after the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Alkali Baba directed the Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, Abiodun Alabi, to investigate him for allegedly claiming to be a member of a group considered by law enforcement agencies as criminal entity.
Although he cleared the air on his alleged involvement, stressing that the name of his group only sound similar to that of the criminal team and that all they do was to support him in ambition to become the most popular and famous artiste across the continent.
According to The Guild, 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 organisers of the Headies have resolved to disqualify Mr Okikiola as a nominee at the forthcoming 15th Headies Awards,” the statement reads.
“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 organisers of the Headies Awards is 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-round excellence. It is extremely important for young artists 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.
