Portable Arrested, Granted ₦1 Million By A Court In Kwara
Controversial Nigerian artist Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, widely known as Portable, has been granted bail set at ₦1 million by an Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State.
This decision came after he was charged with offenses including criminal defamation, intimidation, inciting public unrest, and cyberstalking.
The court stipulated that the bail is contingent upon the provision of two sureties, each also valued at ₦1 million. One surety must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), while the other must own property in a Government Reserved Area (GRA) and possess a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
The case, recorded under First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC, was initiated by the State Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police following a petition dated March 21, 2025, from fellow musician Okunola Saheed Osupa, known as Osupa.
In the petition, it was alleged that on March 19, 2025, Portable conducted a live Instagram broadcast in which he purportedly defamed Osupa, accusing him of jealousy over his success and attempting to tarnish his reputation.
During the broadcast, Portable allegedly stated: “This man is trying to dim my shine! He behaves like someone eating a snail with the shell—he lacks sense. Osupa is like a tortoise. When Apple Music and Spotify were about to pay me, he took down my song from the platforms so I wouldn’t get the money.”
Osupa asserted in his statement that Portable’s comments were not only defamatory and harmful but also aimed at inciting public animosity and disrupting the peace.
According to police reports, Portable admitted to the allegations during questioning at the State Intelligence Department (SID) in Ilorin.
The defendant was brought before the court under multiple legal statutes, including Section 392 (Criminal Defamation), Section 114 (Inciting Disturbance), and Section 397 (Criminal Intimidation) of the Penal Code.
Additionally, he is charged under Section 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015, as well as Sections 10 and 13 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of 2020.
The Investigating Police Officer, ASP Adeniyi James, confirmed that Portable was charged following instructions from police authorities.
Portable, who hails from Oke-Osa in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, must meet his bail conditions prior to his release. The case has been postponed, with the presiding judge advising all involved to maintain proper decorum as the proceedings progress.
