Singer Portable lands in Kwara prison over unmet bail conditions

Controversial street-pop artiste, Okikiola Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has been remanded at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, Kwara State, after failing to meet stringent bail conditions imposed by an Upper Area Court on Monday.

Portable was arraigned following a defamation suit filed by veteran Fuji musician, Okunola Saheed, popularly known as Saheed Osupa.

The charges stem from an Instagram live broadcast where the Zazoo Zeh crooner allegedly made defamatory statements against Osupa, accusing him of jealousy and attempting to sabotage his music career.

Despite being granted bail in the sum of N1 million, Portable was unable to fulfill the court’s conditions, which include presenting two sureties in like sum. The court specified that one surety must be the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), while the other must be a property owner in Ilorin’s Government Reserved Area (GRA), backed by a valid Certificate of Occupancy.

The case, filed under First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC, was submitted to the Kwara State Police Command by Osupa through a petition dated March 21, 2025.

The petition accused Portable of making slanderous remarks during a live Instagram session, where he 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 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 alleged that the comments were not only defamatory but also posed a threat to public peace and were meant to incite hatred.

According to the Kwara State Police Command spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the singer was arrested in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Sunday, April 13, following a valid arrest warrant. “The suspect confessed to the allegations during interrogation conducted in the presence of legal representatives,” she added.

Portable faces multiple charges including criminal defamation, incitement, character assassination, threats to life, and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.

The case has been adjourned while the singer remains in custody pending the fulfillment of his bail requirements.