Portable escapes re-arrest following Osupa’s case withdrawal
Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, narrowly escaped re-arrest on Tuesday after the withdrawal of a petition filed against him by veteran fuji musician, Okunola Saheed (Osupa).
The incident began when Osupa petitioned the police, alleging that Portable made defamatory remarks during a live Instagram broadcast on March 19, 2025.
In response to the petition, the Kwara State Police Command arrested Portable and brought him before a Kwara State Upper Area Court on charges under Sections 392 (Criminal Defamation), 114 (Inciting Disturbance), and 397 (Criminal Intimidation) of the Penal Code, as well as sections of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015.
Portable was initially denied bail on Monday due to his failure to meet the conditions set by the presiding magistrate, Sunday Adeniyi, resulting in his remand at the Federal Correctional Facility in Oke Kura, Ilorin.
However, by Tuesday, the situation took a positive turn when Osupa, through his lawyer Opalekunde Ahmed, filed for the withdrawal of the case.
The decision came after notable figures in the music industry and other influential personalities urged Osupa to settle the matter amicably.
As a result, Portable was released from detention on Tuesday afternoon and left Ilorin.
Despite his release, Portable faced another legal issue when the management of Starwood Hotels in Ilorin accused him of failing to perform at an event for which he was paid N6.3 million.
The event, scheduled for September 29, 2023, was part of the ‘Kwara Tampan Fiesta,’ but Portable allegedly failed to show up after arriving 16 hours late and reportedly sneaked out of the hotel without performing.
Mr. Yemi George, the Managing Director of Starwood Hotels, stated that despite having legal grounds to re-arrest Portable, he refrained from taking action out of respect for Osupa, who intervened on Portable’s behalf.
“I have obtained every necessary document to re-arrest him today (Tuesday) to refund my money, but out of respect for the legendary fuji musician (Osupa), who prevailed on me not to,” George said.
The petition from Starwood Hotels, titled ‘Petition for Fraudulent and Obtaining by False Pretence the Sum of N6.3 Million’, claims that despite signing a performance agreement with Portable, the singer failed to honor the contract, leading to significant financial loss for the hotel and event organizers.
The petitioners are seeking a full investigation, prosecution, and restitution of the N6.3 million allegedly obtained through fraudulent means.
