Popular Nigerian street-hop artist Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, famously known as Portable, has been granted bail set at ₦1 million following his arrest in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Sunday, April 13, 2025.
His arrest stemmed from a petition filed by legendary Fuji musician Saheed Okunola, better known as Saheed Osupa, who accused Portable of a range of serious offenses, including criminal defamation, threats to life, incitement, character assassination, and actions deemed likely to disturb public peace.
Portable was formally arraigned in court on multiple charges, including defamation, intimidation, inciting unrest, and cyberstalking. The court approved his bail on the condition that he provides two sureties: one must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), while the second must own property within a Government Reserved Area (GRA), complete with a valid Certificate of Occupancy.
The situation escalated after a video surfaced in March where Portable was seen insulting Osupa, calling him “big for nothing.” This came after one of Portable’s songs, Fuji Shakushaku, was taken down from streaming platforms like Apple Music due to copyright claims. The track reportedly borrowed heavily from Osupa’s signature Fuji style in both melody and delivery.
Shortly after the backlash, Portable issued a public apology via Instagram on March 20. In the video, he addressed Osupa in Yoruba, expressing regret for his comments and pleading for forgiveness. He explained that his outburst was driven by frustration over the song’s removal and went on to describe the Fuji icon as one of his inspirations in music.
At 31, Portable is no stranger to controversy, but this latest episode has stirred particularly strong reactions within the Nigerian music scene.
