Controversial Singer Portable Remanded in Kwara Prison Over Unmet Bail Conditions
Controversial Nigerian singer, Okikiola Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has been remanded at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, after failing to meet the strict bail conditions set by an Upper Area Court.
Portable was arraigned in court on Monday following a case of alleged defamation filed against him by veteran Fuji artist, Okunola Saheed, popularly known as Saheed Osupa.
The Zazoo Zeh singer was granted bail in the sum of ₦1 million, with two sureties required to post an equal amount. However, the conditions attached to the bail proved difficult to fulfill.
According to the court, one surety must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), while the second must be a property owner residing in a Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Ilorin, with a valid Certificate of Occupancy as proof.
The case was filed under First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC by the State Intelligence Department of the Kwara State Police Command, based on a petition submitted by Osupa on March 21, 2025.
In his petition, Osupa accused Portable of making defamatory remarks during an Instagram live session, where the singer allegedly claimed the Fuji icon was jealous of his rise and deliberately trying to ruin his career.
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 carry tortoise for stomach. When Apple Music and Spotify want to drop money for me, na him remove my song from the platform, make I no see money (sic).”
Osupa claimed that the statements were not only false and defamatory but were made to incite public anger and disrupt societal peace.
Following the petition, police operatives arrested Portable in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at around 7:25 p.m., and transported him to Ilorin for questioning.
A statement from the Kwara State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the arrest and listed the offences Portable is being investigated for, including criminal defamation, threat to life, incitement, character assassination, breach of public peace, and the use of offensive language.
The police stated:
“Based on the gravity of the allegations and accompanying evidence, a valid arrest warrant was obtained from a Magistrate Court in Ilorin. Our operatives executed the warrant and brought the suspect to Ilorin for investigation. His statement was recorded in the presence of legal representatives from both sides.”
ASP Adeniyi James, the investigating officer, confirmed that Portable’s arraignment was carried out on the orders of higher police authorities.
More updates to follow…
