Pelumi Olajengbesi, the Abuja-based legal practitioner, has tackled the police over the arrest and detention of singer Portable over debt allegations.

Portable was arrested by the Lagos state police command for allegedly failing to pay the debt he incurred after purchasing his G-Wagon from a car dealer.

The ‘Zazoo Zeh’ hitmaker was said to have bought the vehicle worth N27 million but paid only N13 million.

Portable allegedly refused to pay the remaining N14 million and whenever the car dealer requested his money, he always claimed the vehicle was having issues.

The singer also jumped over a gate while attempting to evade arrest. He was however caught and forcibly carried by four police officers into a waiting vehicle.

Reacting via Facebook on Wednesday, Olajengbesi said the method of debt recovery employed by the police “blatantly disregarded the country’s laws”.

The lawyer, who represents celebrities like D’banj, Moses Bliss, and Mercy Chinwo, also argued that “indebtedness is not a criminal offense, even the Nigerian government has debts”.

“Although Portable may be troublesome, his arrest and the method of debt recovery employed by the Nigerian Police Force is a blatant disregard to our laws,” he wrote.

“This highlights the deteriorating state of the Nigerian Police force. It’s crucial to note that indebtedness is not a criminal offense, even the Nigerian government has debts.

“The courts have consistently emphasized that the police should refrain from involvement in civil matters such as debt recovery or contractual disputes, unless there are allegations of fraud, such as obtaining under false pretenses, cheating, or criminal breach of trust.

“Section 32(2) of The Police Act 2020, arrests based solely on civil wrongs or breaches of contract are expressly prohibited.

“The Nigerian Police Force reducing its Esteem Globally everyday. And to Portable, resisting arrest is an offence on its own.”

Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola better known as Portable has released a snippet of his forthcoming song “Spiderman” as he finally regains freedom.

Portable, the “Zazoo Zeh” hitmaker has finally regained freedom from the Lagos State Police Command following his arrest.

The singer was forcibly arrested on Tuesday, May 14, for allegedly refusing to complete the payment for his luxury car, a G-Wagon.

Portable had purchased a Mercedes Benz GLE 350 from Ogunsanwo Temitope (Temmy Autos), a car dealer in Lagos, but failed to complete the payment.

It was reported that Portable had paid only N13 million for the vehicle, which was worth N27 million. He allegedly refused to pay the remaining N14 million balance.

When confronted by the police, the singer jumped a gate and attempted to escape but was eventually apprehended by the officers.

Taking to his official Instagram page today, May 16th 2024, Portable confirmed that he has been released from the Lagos State Police custody after meeting bail conditions.

He also disclosed that a new song dubbed “Spiderman” would be released soon and the lyrics in the snippet played shows the singer detailing how he jumped gate while trying to evade Police arrest.

See the post by Portable below;

The result of the autopsy conducted on the body of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, is said to have been unable to ascertain the cause of his death.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu, disclosed this while addressing the press at the coroner’s inquest held in Lagos State on Wednesday.

According to him, the pathologist in charge of the autopsy told the coroner that the deceased’s body had decomposed by the time the test was conducted.

He said, “According to him (pathologist), the cause of death cannot be determined because by the time they conducted the test, the body had decomposed and that it is not possible for them to determine the cause of death. So, in summary, he is saying the cause of death cannot be ascertained. And when you say the cause of death cannot be ascertained, it means it is suspicious, it is not clear. No particular reason.”

According to Shittu, the pathologist further stated that the late singer might have died due to a reaction to certain drugs administered to him before he died.

“He went further to say that he does not know whether it is those drugs that led to the death,” he added.

The senior counsel urged the public not to react sharply to the development, noting that the pathologist who gave the report was an expert.

He also revealed that he had yet to see the full report, adding that the coroner had advised that an application be made to access the document.

Shittu further stated that a date had been fixed to cross-examine the pathologist on the outcome of the autopsy.

He said, “Don’t react until you have seen the full report. As I speak to you, I have not seen the full report. The court has advised that we should apply for the full report. If somebody says this is the final verdict. He must have reasons why he said so. So, look at not only the final verdict but look, also, at the reasons he gave before arriving at the final verdict.

“What is important is that this pathologist has given his evidence today and we have taken a day to cross-examine and ask him questions on the report. Until those questions are asked, we cannot say this is the outcome.”

Mohbad, a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, died on September 12 at the age of 27, with the circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversy on social media.

The Lagos State Police Command however inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the death on September 18, 2023.

His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry, amongst others.

His corpse was exhumed on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, tweeted in September 2023 that an autopsy had been concluded and the police were “awaiting results.”