BREAKING: Singer Portable Granted N1 Million Bail Over Defamation, Cyberstalking Charges In Ilorin

Ilorin, Kwara State– Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has been granted bail in the sum of N1 million by an Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, following his arraignment on charges bordering on criminal defamation, intimidation, inciting disturbance, and cyberstalking.

The bail conditions, as read in court, require two sureties in like sum—one of whom must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), and the other must own a landed property in a Government Reserved Area (GRA) with a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).

The case, documented under First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC, was filed by the State Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police, following a petition dated March 21, 2025, by fellow artist Okunola Saheed Osupa (a.k.a Osupa).

According to the petition, Portable had on March 19, 2025, 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.”

The complainant, Osupa, maintained in his statement that Portable’s remarks were not only defamatory and damaging, but also intended to incite public hatred and disturb the peace.

Upon interrogation at the State Intelligence Department (SID), Ilorin, Portable reportedly confessed to the allegations, police said.

The accused was arraigned under several legal provisions: Section 392 (Criminal Defamation), Section 114 (Inciting Disturbance),Section 397 (Criminal Intimidation) of the Penal Code.

Section 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.

The Investigating Police Officer, ASP Adeniyi James, confirmed Portable was charged directly on police directive.

Portable, a native of Oke-Osa, Sango-Ota in Ogun State, is expected to meet his bail conditions before regaining freedom. The case has been adjourned, with the trial judge urging all parties to maintain decorum as the court proceeds to hear the matter.