Controversial Nigerian singer Okikiola Badmus, widely known as Portable, has been remanded at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, Kwara State, after failing to meet the stringent bail conditions set by an Upper Area Court in the state.
The remand order followed Portable’s court appearance on Monday over charges of defamation brought against him by veteran Fuji musician Okunola Saheed, popularly known as Saheed Osupa.
The court granted the singer bail in the sum of ₦1 million but attached strict conditions, including the provision of two sureties in like sum. According to the court’s directive, one surety 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, and must present a valid Certificate of Occupancy.
The case was filed under First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC by the State Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police, following a petition submitted by Osupa on March 21, 2025.
In the petition, Osupa alleged that Portable had made a defamatory live broadcast on Instagram, during which he accused the Fuji musician of being envious of his success and attempting to tarnish his reputation.
The court is expected to reconvene on a later date to continue hearing the matter.
In the video, 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).”
Saheed Osupa insisted that the comments made by Portable were not only defamatory and injurious to his reputation but were also deliberately aimed at inciting public hatred and creating unrest.
The petition, which detailed these allegations, was submitted to the Kwara State Police Command. Following this, officers arrested the street-pop artist, who, according to reports, admitted to the accusations during police interrogation.
In an official statement, the command’s spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed that the petition levelled multiple serious charges against the singer. These included criminal defamation, threats to life, incitement, character assassination, conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace, and the use of abusive and offensive language.
The case continues to draw public attention, with legal proceedings set to resume at a later date.
“In view of the weight of these allegations and the supporting evidence presented, the command secured a valid arrest warrant from a Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin.
“Acting on this warrant, operatives from the command proceeded to Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Sunday, 13th April 2025, where the suspect was apprehended at about 19:25hrs. He was immediately brought to Ilorin for further investigations.
“Upon his arrival, the suspect’s statement was taken in the presence of legal representatives from both parties,” the statement read.
The Investigating Police Officer (IPO), ASP Adeniyi James, confirmed that Portable was charged following a directive from the police authorities. The decision to proceed with the charges was based on the gravity of the allegations and the investigation into the matter.
