By Ayomide Otitoju
An Upper Area Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday granted controversial street-pop artiste Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, bail in the sum of ₦1 million following his arraignment on multiple charges, including criminal defamation, cyberstalking, and incitement of public disturbance.
The court stipulated stringent bail conditions, requiring one surety to be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), and another who must own property within a Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Ilorin, backed by a valid Certificate of Occupancy.
As of the time of reporting, the 31-year-old singer remained in custody at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre, having failed to meet the bail conditions.
The charges against Portable stem from a petition filed by veteran Fuji musician Saheed Osupa, who alleged that the singer made defamatory statements during a live broadcast on Instagram on March 19, 2025.
In the video, the ‘Zazoo Zeh’ crooner launched into a tirade against Osupa, accusing him of sabotaging his music career. “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… Na him remove my song from platform make I no see money,” Portable alleged.
Osupa, 55, described the remarks as damaging to his reputation and accused the singer of inciting public hatred and disturbing the peace. The police, acting on a petition dated March 21, opened an investigation through the State Intelligence Department.
According to Police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Portable was arrested in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at about 7:25 p.m. on Saturday and subsequently transferred to Ilorin for further interrogation.
“In view of the weight of these allegations and the supporting evidence presented, the command secured a valid arrest warrant from a Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin,” Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed.
The charges against Portable are contained in First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC, and include criminal defamation under Section 392 of the Penal Code, criminal intimidation (Section 397), inciting disturbance (Section 114), as well as violations under the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.
ASP Adeniyi James, the investigating officer, affirmed that the charges were filed under the directive of the state police command.
Presiding Magistrate Sunday Adeniyi adjourned the case to April 30, 2025, urging all parties to maintain decorum as proceedings continue.
Copyright Dispute Deepens Legal Tussle
In addition to the defamation case, the ongoing dispute between Portable and Osupa includes copyright infringement claims. Osupa’s management, Digital Music Commerce and Exchange Ltd. (DMCE), accused Portable of unauthorised use of elements from Osupa’s musical catalogue in the 2023 track Fuji Shakushaku.
The song was later taken down from Apple Music and other streaming platforms after DMCE filed a formal complaint. Portable, in a series of online videos, lashed out at Osupa, referring to him as “big for nothing,” but later issued a public apology, blaming his outburst on frustration over financial losses.
In a statement released on March 27 via Osupa’s official Instagram page, DMCE said, “We cannot stand idly by while King Saheed Osupa is being disrespected. While most copyright violations have been resolved amicably, one individual [Portable] has chosen the path of cyberbullying and reputational attacks.”
The management also emphasized that Osupa is signed to Sony Music Publishing Nigeria, and DMCE is the authorized body to enforce his intellectual property rights.
A Pattern of Legal Troubles
This is the latest in a string of legal challenges for Portable. In February 2025, he was granted bail after being charged in Ogun State for allegedly assaulting government officials during a regulatory enforcement visit to his bar.
In 2024, he faced arrest in Lagos over a debt dispute with a car dealer. He was accused of defaulting on payments for a vehicle. In 2023, he was arraigned in Ogun State for assault and theft following an altercation with a civilian.
Despite his string of controversies, Portable has maintained a loyal fan base, leveraging his street credibility and social media presence to sustain a vibrant, albeit tumultuous, career in Nigeria’s music scene.Court Grants Portable ₦1 Million Bail on Multiple Charges
By Ayomide Otitoju
An Upper Area Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday granted controversial street-pop artiste Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, bail in the sum of ₦1 million following his arraignment on multiple charges, including criminal defamation, cyberstalking, and incitement of public disturbance.
The court stipulated stringent bail conditions, requiring one surety to be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), and another who must own property within a Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Ilorin, backed by a valid Certificate of Occupancy.
As of the time of reporting, the 31-year-old singer remained in custody at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre, having failed to meet the bail conditions.
The charges against Portable stem from a petition filed by veteran Fuji musician Saheed Osupa, who alleged that the singer made defamatory statements during a live broadcast on Instagram on March 19, 2025.
In the video, the ‘Zazoo Zeh’ crooner launched into a tirade against Osupa, accusing him of sabotaging his music career. “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… Na him remove my song from platform make I no see money,” Portable alleged.
Osupa, 55, described the remarks as damaging to his reputation and accused the singer of inciting public hatred and disturbing the peace. The police, acting on a petition dated March 21, opened an investigation through the State Intelligence Department.
According to Police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Portable was arrested in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at about 7:25 p.m. on Saturday and subsequently transferred to Ilorin for further interrogation.
“In view of the weight of these allegations and the supporting evidence presented, the command secured a valid arrest warrant from a Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin,” Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed.
The charges against Portable are contained in First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC, and include criminal defamation under Section 392 of the Penal Code, criminal intimidation (Section 397), inciting disturbance (Section 114), as well as violations under the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.
ASP Adeniyi James, the investigating officer, affirmed that the charges were filed under the directive of the state police command.
Presiding Magistrate Sunday Adeniyi adjourned the case to April 30, 2025, urging all parties to maintain decorum as proceedings continue.
Copyright Dispute Deepens Legal Tussle
In addition to the defamation case, the ongoing dispute between Portable and Osupa includes copyright infringement claims. Osupa’s management, Digital Music Commerce and Exchange Ltd. (DMCE), accused Portable of unauthorised use of elements from Osupa’s musical catalogue in the 2023 track Fuji Shakushaku.
The song was later taken down from Apple Music and other streaming platforms after DMCE filed a formal complaint. Portable, in a series of online videos, lashed out at Osupa, referring to him as “big for nothing,” but later issued a public apology, blaming his outburst on frustration over financial losses.
In a statement released on March 27 via Osupa’s official Instagram page, DMCE said, “We cannot stand idly by while King Saheed Osupa is being disrespected. While most copyright violations have been resolved amicably, one individual [Portable] has chosen the path of cyberbullying and reputational attacks.”
The management also emphasized that Osupa is signed to Sony Music Publishing Nigeria, and DMCE is the authorized body to enforce his intellectual property rights.
A Pattern of Legal Troubles
This is the latest in a string of legal challenges for Portable. In February 2025, he was granted bail after being charged in Ogun State for allegedly assaulting government officials during a regulatory enforcement visit to his bar.
In 2024, he faced arrest in Lagos over a debt dispute with a car dealer. He was accused of defaulting on payments for a vehicle. In 2023, he was arraigned in Ogun State for assault and theft following an altercation with a civilian.
Despite his string of controversies, Portable has maintained a loyal fan base, leveraging his street credibility and social media presence to sustain a vibrant, albeit tumultuous, career in Nigeria’s music scene.
