Popular Nigerian artist, Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, known professionally as Portable, has been remanded at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, Kwara State, after failing to meet the strict bail conditions set by an Upper Area Court.
The singer appeared before the court on Monday, April 14, to face charges of defamation of character.
Although bail was granted in the sum of ₦1 million, Portable was unable to immediately fulfil the conditions, which included providing two sureties of an equal amount.
According to the court’s requirements, one of the sureties must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), while the other must be a property owner residing in a Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Ilorin, with a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
The charges stem from a petition filed by fellow artist Okunola Saheed Osupa, popularly known as Osupa, who alleged that Portable made defamatory statements about him in a live Instagram broadcast on March 19, 2025.
In the video, Portable accused Osupa of trying to sabotage his music career and tarnish his reputation, stating:
“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.”
Osupa claimed the remarks were defamatory and incited public hatred, prompting him to seek legal redress.
Police reports indicate that during interrogation at the State Intelligence Department (SID) in Ilorin, Portable allegedly admitted to making the statements.
He is facing multiple charges under several legal provisions, including:
Section 392 (Criminal Defamation)
Section 114 (Inciting Disturbance)
Section 397 (Criminal Intimidation) of the Penal Code
Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015
Sections 10 and 13 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020
According to ASP Adeniyi James, the Investigating Police Officer, the charges were filed based on directives from police authorities.
