Eniafe Babalola, Ilorin
The arrival of controversial singer Okikiola Badmus, popularly known as Portable, at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, the Kwara State, was said to have excited inmates, who, upon sighting him, started hailing him.
A very top source, who was present when Portable arrived at the prison said inmates started singing his popular song, zazoo.
The source said, ‘‘As soon as it was clear to him that he was going to be taken to the prison, his mood changed. He wasn’t happy.
‘‘But as soon as he was taken to the prison and he alighted from the vehicle, the language ‘Zazoon, Portable’’ rented the air. Inmates and even prison officials trouped out to see him.
‘’But instead of him being happy as the language of his popularity among the inmates, it was clear that Mr. Portable was not happy.’’
Said to be very sober, Portable was taken to prison over his inability to meet stringent bail conditions imposed by an Upper Area Court in the state.
He was taken to court on Monday on the charges of defamation of character levelled against him by a Fuji musician, Okunola Saheed, aka Saheed Osupa.
He was unable to meet the conditions of N1 million and other stringent bail conditions, including providing two sureties in like sum.
The court said one of the sureties must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, while the other must be a property owner within a Government Reserved Area in Ilorin, supported by a valid Certificate of Occupancy.
His case was documented under First Information Report 117(1) CPC, and filed by the State Intelligence Department of the police following a petition dated March 21, 2025, by Osupa.
Portable was accused of making a live broadcast on Instagram, where he allegedly defamed Osupa, claiming the complainant was envious of his success and attempting to destroy his reputation.
In the video, Portable was quoted as saying, “This man dey try to 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 maintained that Portable’s remarks were not only defamatory and damaging but also intended to incite public hatred and disturb the peace.
It was submitted to the Kwara State Police Command, and its men arrested the street-pop singer who confessed to the allegations while being interrogated.
A statement by the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Osupa accused Portable of several serious offences, including criminal defamation, threats to life, incitement, character assassination, conduct likely to cause a breach of the public peace, as well as the use of abusive and offensive language.
The statement said, “Given 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.
