The Headies rejects Portable Zazu for engaging in “criminal activities”
Touchaheart reports that the directors of The Headies have disqualified controversial artist Habeem Okikiola, also known as Portable, from participating in this year’s ceremony.
This online news source recounts that on May 24, 2022, Portable received nominations for “Best Street Artist” and “Rookie of the Year.”
He was anticipated to have competition from Av, Fave, Magixx, and Ugoccie for the title of “Rookie of the Year.” He competed in the second category among people like Bella Shmurda, Mohbad, Naira Marley, and Goya Menor.
Portable claimed shortly after the nominations were unveiled that 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.
Reacting, the organisers of the awards threatened to disqualify him if he failed to retract his statement and issue an apology on his social media pages, in response, Portable taunted the award organisers, saying they “nominated a mad man musician”.
Touchaheart Nigeria reports that Portable Zazu, thereafter apologized for his “unguarded utterance” which he said was harmless.
But in a statement released on Tuesday evening, July 26, 2022, the award organisers said Portable was disqualified because he is a subject of an investigation relating to criminal activities. The organisers also cited a claim he made that he’s the founder of ‘One million Boys’, a suspected cult group in Lagos, as another ground for his disqualification
Read the complete statement announcing Portable Zazu’s disqualification below…
We regret to announce that the Headies organizers have decided to disqualify Mr. Habeeb Okikiola as a nominee at the upcoming 15th Headies Awards as a result of numerous incriminating statements made by Mr. Okikiola, also known as “Portable,” and the persistently negative attention that Mr. Okikiola has garnered from the Nigeria Police and the general public in recent times.
A number of offenses Mr. Okikiola committed on his social media platforms have contributed to the decision to disqualify him. On May 25 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;
“Those are my awards. Anybody else who wins, I will ask for them to be killed. I will ask them to kill the person. If the organizers give my award to someone else, they will die”. -Mr. Habeeb Okikiola
On July 18 2022, Mr Okikiola published a video on his social media platfoms where he stated that he is the founder of the notorious cult group. ‘One Million Boys’. The said group gained notoriety for maiming and robbing innocent Nigerians over the years. In his words, he said;
“Have you heard of Ajah boys, One Million Boys? I established them.”
Furthermore, on the June 17 2022, Mr. Habeeb Okikiola made a recording of himself where he ordered his group of friends to assault and inflict bodily harm on his accused friend, DJ Chicken. In his words, he said;
“E na eleyi paa jo!”(beat him mercilesslyl)
The Headies Awards are organized by Smooth Promotions Limited, a law-abiding and responsible company that detests all forms of violence, illegal gatherings, and other activities that are destroying our society. We disassociate ourselves from anyone connected to such an assembly or activities, including Mr. Okikiola’s prospects, as long as these acts are sufficiently connected to him as described. We will not tolerate careless and impolite statements from artists.
The music business needs brilliance on all fronts. Young performers who are viewed as prospective role models must demonstrate professionalism, good behavior, and respect for others.
Being subject of an investigation relating to criminal activities, Mr Habeeb Okikiola is hereby disqualified from both categories of awards at the forthcoming 15th Annual Headies Awards scheduled to hold later this year namely:
1. Best Street Artist
2. Rookie of the Year
The public are hereby assured of our commitment to promote talents and individuals of exemplary character in the best interest of our society.
