Mueez Ajao
– Organisers of popular music award, The Headies, say Habeeb Okikiola, better known as Portable, may be disqualified following his death threat to co-nominees of its 2022 edition.
– The award’s organisers broke the news in a statement broadcast via HipTV, its satellite TV channel, on Friday.
– The Headies unveiled the nominees for its 2022 edition on Tuesday.
Also Read: Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, top 2022 Headies nomination list
– Portable, the singer, was nominated in the ‘Rookie of the Year’ and ‘Best Street-Hop Artiste’ categories.
– In the ‘Rookie of the Year’ category, he is expected to compete with Av, Fave, Magixx, and Ugoccie.
– For the second, he is pitted against Bella Shmurda, Mohbad, Naira Marley, and Goya Menor among others.
– But in a video on Wednesday, Portable claimed other nominees were no match for him. He further threatened to kill anyone who wins any of the categories in his place.
– In its public announcement, The Headies said it might be forced to disqualify the singer if he fails to retract his statement and issue an apology on his Instagram page.
– “We have notified the Nigerian police of Mr. Okokiola’s actions to fellow nominees,” the organisers stated.
– “Also, demand for the immediate retraction of the video as well as a written apology to nominees in both categories and to The Headies has been made.
– “Should Mr. Okikiola fail to meet our demands, we will not only disqualify him from participating in The Headies but also enforce the instrumentality of the law.
– “The general public are hereby implored to disregard the video and stop the dissemination of same in the public space.”
The Headies dissociates itself and any activities relating to the Awards, from any form of violence, abuse, threat or intimidation, and officially request that popular fast-rising Nigerian artiste, @portablebaeby retract his statement in a video published on his social media pic.twitter.com/yCdou6llOI
— IG: the_headies (@The_Headies) May 27, 2022
platform on May 25, 2022, that insinuates acting in a violent manner to other nominated artistes.
The Awards encourages all nominees and fans to celebrate and support each other, and grow the industry of our dreams.
— IG: the_headies (@The_Headies) May 27, 2022
