Nigeria controversial singer, Badmus Okikiola popularly called Portable, on Tuesday, escaped re-arrest over another petition against him.
Portable regained freedom after veteran fuji musician, Okunola Saheed, popularly called Osupa, withdrew his petition.
Osupa had petitioned the police accusing Portable of criminal defamation, criminal intimidation, inciting public disturbance and cyberstalking.
Acting on Osupa’s petition, the Kwara State Police command had on Monday dragged Portable before a Kwara State Upper Area Court in Ilorin.
Potable was arraigned for offences deemed contrary and punishable under Section 392 (Criminal Defamation), Section 114 (Inciting Disturbance), Section 397 (Criminal Intimidation) of the Penal Code and Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, as well as Sections 10 and 13 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.
The petition held that Portable, during a live Instagram broadcast on March 19, 2025, made defamatory remarks against Osupa, accusing him of jealousy and attempts to sabotage his career.
The presiding magistrate, Sunday Adeniyi had admitted Portable to bail in the sum of N1m and 2 sureties out of which one of them must be chairman of the Performing Musician Association of Nigeria while the other must own landed property in the Government Reserve Area within the jurisdiction of the Court.
Portable was unable to perfect his bail condition on Monday and was remanded at the federal correctional facility, Oke Kura, Ilorin.
However, respite came the way of Portable on Tuesday when Osupa, through his solicitor, Opalekunde Ahmed filed for withdrawal of the case.
Speaking on Wednesday, Osupa’s solicitor said his client mandated him to withdraw the case following intervention, and pleas from notable stakeholders.
He said Osupa was resorting to settling the case with Portable out of court.
The withdrawal letter, however, conveyed Osupa’s warning that Portable desists from further publications, or utterances disparaging his person.
The withdrawal letter read, “It’s our client’s (nominal complainant) instruction that the stakeholders in the music industry and other notable personalities in the society have intervened in the matter and pleaded to the nominal complainant to withdraw the case against the defendant in the interest of public peace.
“We hereby on behalf of our client apply to withdraw the case against the defendant and terminate same accordingly as the matter had been resolved amicably.
“Further, sir, we want to pray the court to admonish and warn the defendant to desist from any further publications, utterances and any other acts aiming at disparaging the person and businesses of the nominal complainant.”
