Controversial singer Portable granted N1m bail by an Ilorin court after being arraigned for defamation and cyberstalking. PMAN official and a GRA landowner required as sureties.
Breaking: Portable Granted N1m Bail in Ilorin Court Over Cyberstalking, Criminal Defamation
Controversial Nigerian street-pop artist, Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has been granted bail in the sum of N1 million by an Upper Area Court sitting in Ilorin, following his arraignment on multiple charges, including criminal defamation, intimidation, inciting public disturbance, and cyberstalking.
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Police Arrest Portable Over Criminal Defamation, Threats Against Fuji Star Saheed Osupa
The bail conditions mandate Portable to present two sureties in like sum. One must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), and the other must be a landowner in a Government Reserved Area (GRA) with a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
The case, referenced as First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC, was filed by the State Intelligence Department (SID) of the Nigeria Police, based on a petition submitted by Fuji icon Okunola Saheed, popularly known as Osupa, on March 21, 2025.
The petition stems from a viral Instagram Live video Portable recorded on March 19, 2025, where he made derogatory remarks about Osupa, accusing him of jealousy and career sabotage. Portable was quoted saying:
This man dey try bring down my shine! He be like person wey dey chop snail with shell—him no get sense. Osupa na tortoise. When Apple Music and Spotify wan drop money for me, na him remove my song from platform make I no see money.
In response, Osupa described the comments as defamatory, inciting, and damaging to his reputation, alleging that they caused public unrest.
Police investigations revealed that Portable confessed to the allegations during interrogation at the SID in Ilorin. He was subsequently arraigned under the following legal provisions:
Section 392 – Criminal Defamation (Penal Code)
Section 114 – Inciting Disturbance
Section 397 – Criminal Intimidation
Sections 24(1)(b) & 24(2)(c) – Cybercrimes Act, 2015
Sections 10 & 13 – Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020
The Investigating Police Officer, ASP Adeniyi James, confirmed that the charges were based on direct instructions from police authorities.
As of press time, Portable remains in police custody, pending fulfillment of the bail conditions. The case has been adjourned, with the trial judge urging both parties to remain civil as the legal proceedings unfold.
