Portable Remanded in Ilorin Prison Over Defamation, Cyberstalking Charges Filed by Fuji Legend Saheed Osupa
Controversial Nigerian street-pop artist, Habeeb Okikiola, widely known as Portable, has found himself behind bars once again. The singer was remanded at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin on Monday, April 14, after failing to meet the bail conditions set by an Upper Area Court in Kwara State.
Portable, 31, was arraigned on serious charges including criminal defamation, cyberstalking, criminal intimidation, and inciting public disturbance. The case, filed under FIR 117(1) CPC, invokes Sections 392, 397, and 114 of the Penal Code, as well as relevant provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.
The legal troubles stem from a heated social media outburst in March. During a March 19 Instagram Live broadcast, Portable accused veteran Fuji musician Saheed Osupa of sabotaging his career. In his words:
“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 described the statements as defamatory and inciting, claiming they were “intended to damage my reputation and stir public hatred.” His management, Digital Music Commerce and Exchange Ltd. (DMCE), had earlier filed a complaint which led to the removal of Portable’s 2023 single, Fuji Shakushaku, from streaming platforms over alleged copyright infringement.
What began as a music rights dispute quickly turned personal. In subsequent videos, Portable continued to mock the 55-year-old Fuji legend, calling him “big for nothing.” However, the singer later issued a public apology, blaming his outbursts on frustration caused by financial losses from the song’s takedown.
On Saturday, April 12, Portable was arrested in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at around 7:25 p.m., according to police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi. He was later transferred to Ilorin for further investigation and arraignment.
At the court hearing, Portable was granted bail in the sum of ₦1 million, with two sureties required in like amount. One must be a senior official of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), while the other must be a property owner within a Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Ilorin, possessing a valid Certificate of Occupancy. As of the close of proceedings, the singer had not met these conditions and was remanded in custody.
This isn’t Portable’s first brush with the law. Over the past two years, he has faced several charges involving assault, theft, obstruction of justice, and debt-related disputes across Ogun and Lagos States.
Presiding Magistrate Sunday Adeniyi adjourned the case until April 30 and urged both parties to maintain decorum as the trial continues.