Controversial Nigerian artist Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, widely known as Portable, has been granted bail in the amount of ₦1 million by an Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, after facing multiple charges, including criminal defamation, intimidation, inciting public disturbance, and cyberstalking.
The court stipulated that the bail would be conditional on the provision of two sureties, each responsible for an equal sum. One of the sureties must hold a position as either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), while the other must own land within a Government Reserved Area (GRA) and present a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
The charges stem from a First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC, filed by the State Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police. This followed a petition on March 21, 2025, by fellow musician Okunola Saheed Osupa, also known as Osupa. The petition accuses Portable of defaming Osupa in a live Instagram broadcast on March 19, 2025. In the video, Portable allegedly claimed that Osupa envied his success and sought to tarnish his reputation.
In the broadcast, Portable was quoted as saying: “This man dey try bring down my shine! He be like person wey dey chop snail with shell—him no get sense. Osupa na tortoise. When Apple Music and Spotify wan drop money for me, na him remove my song from platform make I no see money (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’s statement alleges that Portable’s comments were not only defamatory but also designed to stir public hatred and disrupt peace.
During interrogation at the State Intelligence Department (SID) in Ilorin, Portable reportedly admitted to the accusations, according to the police.
He faces charges under several legal provisions, including Section 392 (Criminal Defamation), Section 114 (Inciting Disturbance), and Section 397 (Criminal Intimidation) of the Penal Code. He is also charged under Section 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and Sections 10 and 13 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.
The Investigating Police Officer, ASP Adeniyi James, confirmed that Portable was charged based on directives from higher police authorities. Portable, a native of Oke-Osa in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, must meet his bail conditions before being released. The case has been adjourned, with the judge urging all parties to maintain order as the legal process unfolds.
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