- Safiu Kehinde
An Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has granted Nigerian musician, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, N1 million bail in defamation suit filed against him by Fuji Legend, Okunola Saheed Osupa.
NPO Reported that the Zazoo crooner was arrested by Kwara State Police Command following a petition received from Saheed Osupa over alleged threat to life.
Portable was arraigned on charges including criminal defamation, intimidation, inciting public disturbance, and cyberstalking.
The court, in its ruling, held that the bail is conditional upon the provision of two sureties in like sum.
As disclosed by Portable’s lawyer, Barr. Isaac Adebayo, who filed the oral bail application, the court ruled that one of the sureties must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN).
The other must possess a landed property within a Government Reserved Area (GRA), backed by a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
Portable’s lawyer further disclosed how the singer’s plea to Osupa was rejected by the Fuji icon who insisted in taking the case to court.
“I made an oral application, and it was granted. Saheed said he (Portable) defamed his character, intimidated him, and all sort.
“We were in the Police Headquarters and Portable even begged him, the CP begged him. But he said no until the bring him to the court and we are in court.
“Thank God he has been granted bail. Though the condition is a bit stringent, but we will meet up by the grace of God.” He said.
According to report, the case documented under First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC, was filed by the State Intelligence Department of the Nigeria police following Saheed Osupa’s petition dated March 21, 2025.
Portable had on March 19, 2025, according to the petition, made a live broadcast on Instagram, where he allegedly defamed Osupa, claiming the complainant was envious of his success and attempting to destroy his reputation.
In the video, Portable was quoted to have said: “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”.