Court grants Portable ₦1m Bail over defamation, cybercrime charges

Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has been granted bail in the sum of ₦1 million by an Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, following his arraignment on multiple charges including criminal defamation, cyberstalking, and inciting public disturbance.

The court ruled that the bail is subject to the provision of two sureties of like sum. One must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), while the other must own landed property in a Government Reserved Area (GRA) with a valid Certificate of Occupancy.

The charges were filed by the State Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police, based on a petition submitted on March 21, 2025, by fellow artist Okunola Saheed Osupa, also known as Osupa. According to the petition, Portable allegedly defamed him during an Instagram live broadcast on March 19, accusing Osupa of sabotaging his music earnings.

In the viral video, Portable reportedly 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.”

Osupa claimed the remarks were not only defamatory but intended to incite public hatred and tarnish his image. He said the outburst was orchestrated to provoke unrest within the entertainment space.

The police confirmed that Portable confessed during interrogation and was arraigned 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 Act, 2015,

Sections 10 and 13 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.

ASP Adeniyi James, the Investigating Police Officer, disclosed that the charges were filed based on a directive from higher police authorities.

Portable, who hails from Oke-Osa in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, is expected to meet his bail conditions before being released. The case has been adjourned, with the presiding judge urging all involved parties to exercise restraint as proceedings continue.