“How Osupa prevented re-arrest of Portable for N6.3m fraud”

By Olayinka Owolewa

But for intervention of fuji icon, Saheed Akorede popularly known as Osupa,
Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable would have been re-arrested for N6.3 million fraud in Ilorin after another petition surfaced against him.

This was after Portable was released following the withdrawal of the defamation suit against him on Tuesday but the Fuji musician..

However, Mr Yemi George, Managing Director of Starwood Hotels Ilorin said he had also submitted petition to the police for arrest of Portable over alleged N6.3 million fraud.

However, he said Osupa prevailed on him not to re-arrest Portable after collecting the sum of N6.3m for a show that he did not perform.

“I have obtained every necessary document to re-arrest him today (Tuesday) in order to refund my money but out of respect for the legendary fuji musician (Osupa) , he prevailed on me not to.

“My company, Starwood Hotels O2 Arena in collaboration with the leadership of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) put an event together for Portable to perform but he never did” George said.

In the Petition, the petitioners said they entered agreement with Portable on July 22, 2024, which he never respected.

According to the petition, Portable was paid N6.3m to perform at the ‘Kwara Tampan Fiesta’ on Sept. 29, 2024, but failed to appear on stage at the agreed-upon time.

Despite arriving over 16 hours late, he allegedly sneaked out of his hotel lodge without fulfilling his promise to perform.

The petitioners claim that Portable’s actions caused significant financial loss and distress, and they are seeking a thorough investigation, prosecution, and restitution of the N6,300,000 allegedly obtained through fraudulent means.

The petition was signed by Chief Olu Amusan, Governor, TAMPAN and Ayodele Demokun on behalf of Starwood Hotels 02 Arena

NAN recalls that the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Kwara command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, had in a statement on Sunday confirmed the arrest of Portable following a petition received from Osupa.

The petition borders on serious allegations which includes criminal defamation, threat to life, incitement, character assassination, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and the use of abusive and insulting words.(NAN)