An Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, granted controversial street-pop singer Habeeb Okikiola, known as Portable, bail of N1 million after his arraignment on charges including criminal defamation, cyberstalking, and inciting public disturbance. The bail requires two sureties in the same amount: one must be the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), and the other must own property in Ilorin’s Government Reserved Area (GRA) with a valid Certificate of Occupancy. As of now, the 31-year-old remains at Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, unable to meet these conditions.
The charges arise from a petition by Fuji veteran Okunola Saheed, aka Saheed Osupa, who claimed Portable defamed him during a March 19 Instagram Live broadcast. In the video, Portable allegedly said, “This man dey try bring down my shine! He be like person wey dey chop snail with shell—him no get sense. Osupa carry tortoise for stomach. When Apple Music and Spotify want to drop money for me, and remove my song from the platform, make I no see money.” Osupa argued these remarks damaged his reputation and aimed to stir public unrest. Following Osupa’s March 21 petition, the police investigated through the State Intelligence Department.
Superintendent Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed Portable’s arrest in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at around 7:25 p.m. on Saturday. He was then moved to Ilorin for questioning. “With the gravity of the allegations and evidence, we secured an arrest warrant from a Magistrate Court in Ilorin,” Ejire-Adeyemi stated. Portable’s statement was recorded with legal representatives present for both sides.
The case, filed under First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC, includes charges of criminal defamation (Section 392, Penal Code), criminal intimidation (Section 397), and inciting disturbance (Section 114), alongside violations of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, and the Violence Against Persons Law, 2020. ASP Adeniyi James, the investigating officer, noted the charges followed police directives.
Magistrate Sunday Adeniyi adjourned the case to April 30, urging all parties to remain civil. This marks another legal issue for Portable this year. Last month, he faced bail in Ogun State for allegedly assaulting government officials and obstructing duties.
The dispute with Osupa also involves copyright claims. Tensions grew after Osupa reported Portable’s 2023 track, Fuji Shakushaku, for infringement, leading to its removal from Apple Music and other platforms. Portable retaliated with critical videos, calling Osupa “big for nothing,” but later apologized, citing frustration over financial losses.
Osupa’s management, Digital Music Commerce and Exchange Ltd. (DMCE), addressed the issue on March 27 via Fountain Osupa’s Instagram. “We won’t tolerate disrespect toward King Saheed Osupa,” they stated, noting DMCE’s efforts to resolve unauthorized use of Osupa’s music. They clarified Osupa’s contract with Sony Music Publishing Nigeria and DMCE’s role in protecting his intellectual property.
Portable’s legal troubles are not new. In 2023, he faced assault and theft charges in Ogun State. In 2024, he was arrested in Lagos over a car payment dispute but was released on bail. In February 2025, he was charged with assault, obstruction, and possessing dangerous weapons after an alleged attack on officials at his Ogun State bar. He surrendered and secured bail, but these incidents continue to fuel his controversial reputation.
