Popular Nigerian artist Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has been remanded at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, Kwara State, after failing to meet the bail conditions set by an Upper Area Court.
Portable was arraigned on charges of criminal defamation and related offences. Although he was granted bail on Monday in the sum of ₦1 million, the court stipulated that he must produce two sureties: one must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), and the other a property owner in a Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Ilorin, with a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
Unable to immediately satisfy these conditions, the “Zazoo Zeh” crooner was remanded pending their fulfillment.
The charges stem from a petition filed by fellow artist Okunola Saheed Osupa, also known as Osupa, who alleged that Portable defamed him during a live Instagram broadcast on March 19, 2025. In the video, Portable reportedly accused Osupa of jealousy and sabotage, saying: “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.”
Osupa claimed the statements were not only false and injurious to his reputation, but also intended to incite public hostility.
Following his arrest and interrogation by the State Intelligence Department (SID) in Ilorin, police said Portable admitted to the allegations.
He was arraigned under several provisions of the Penal Code, including Section 392 (Criminal Defamation), Section 114 (Inciting Disturbance), and Section 397 (Criminal Intimidation), as well as sections of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.
ASP Adeniyi James, the investigating officer, confirmed that the charges were filed based on instructions from police authorities.
Portable, who hails from Oke-Osa in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, will remain in custody until his bail conditions are met. The case has been adjourned, with the judge urging all parties to maintain decorum as legal proceedings continue.
