AN Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, today granted bail to controversial street-pop artist Habeeb Okikiola, widely known as Portable, in the sum of ₦1 million following his arraignment on several charges. These include criminal defamation, cyberstalking, and inciting public disturbance.
The bail terms require two sureties: one must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), while the other must own property within a Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Ilorin and present a valid Certificate of Occupancy.
As of the time of reporting, the 31-year-old singer remains in custody at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin due to his inability to fulfill the bail conditions.
The charges arose from a complaint filed by veteran Fuji musician, Okunola Saheed, popularly known as Saheed Osupa. Osupa accused Portable of defaming him during a live Instagram broadcast on March 19, 2025.
In the video, the ‘Zazoo Zeh’ singer 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, na him remove my song from the platform, make I no see money.”
Osupa claimed that Portable’s statements were defamatory, damaging to his reputation, and aimed at inciting public animosity.
The police launched an investigation through the State Intelligence Department after receiving the petition on March 21, 2025.
Police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed that Portable was arrested on Saturday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, around 7:25 p.m., and later transferred to Ilorin for further investigation.
“Considering the seriousness of the allegations and the evidence presented, the command obtained a valid arrest warrant from a Magistrate Court in Ilorin,” said Ejire-Adeyemi.
She added that Portable’s statement was taken in the presence of legal representatives from both parties.
The case is recorded under First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC. Charges include criminal defamation (Section 392), criminal intimidation (Section 397), and incitement to disturbance (Section 114) of the Penal Code, along with violations of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.
Investigating officer ASP Adeniyi James confirmed that the charges were filed on directives from police authorities.
The presiding Magistrate Sunday Adeniyi adjourned the case to April 30, urging all parties to remain civil as proceedings continue.
This is not Portable’s first run-in with the law this year. Just weeks ago, he was granted bail in Ogun State after being charged with assaulting government officials and obstructing their duties.
The clash between Portable and Osupa also includes a copyright dispute. Tensions escalated after Osupa, 55, reported Portable’s 2023 track, Fuji Shakushaku, for copyright infringement, leading to its removal from major streaming platforms.
In reaction, Portable released a series of videos criticizing the Fuji legend, calling him “big for nothing.” He later issued a public apology, attributing his comments to frustration over the song’s removal and the financial impact.
Osupa’s management company, Digital Music Commerce and Exchange Ltd. (DMCE), issued a statement via Osupa’s official Instagram page on March 27, condemning Portable’s behavior.
“We will not tolerate disrespect towards King Saheed Osupa,” the statement read. “DMCE identified several unauthorised uses of Osupa’s music, most of which were resolved peacefully—except for one case involving cyberbullying and defamation.”
The statement reaffirmed that Osupa is signed to Sony Music Publishing Nigeria and that DMCE is authorized to act on his behalf in protecting his intellectual property.
Portable has been entangled in multiple legal cases in recent years. In 2023, he faced charges of assault and theft in Ogun State. In 2024, he was arrested in Lagos over a car payment dispute and released on bail.
In February 2025, he was again in trouble for allegedly attacking government officials during a regulatory visit to his bar in Ogun State. He faced charges of assault, obstruction, and possession of dangerous weapons before being granted bail after turning himself in. These continued cases have added to his reputation being involved in many controversies.
