Controversial street-hop singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has been granted freedom after Fuji legend, Saheed Osupa, officially withdrew a cyberstalking and defamation case against him.
The legal dispute was resolved on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, following a formal notice of withdrawal submitted at the Upper Area Court 1 in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Osupa’s legal representative, Ahmed Opalekunde, confirmed to The PUNCH that the move was made on his client’s instruction after several appeals and interventions from notable figures in the music industry and other influential Nigerians.
The case originated from a petition Osupa filed, accusing Portable of criminal defamation, cyberstalking, criminal intimidation, and inciting public disturbance.
The allegations were based on a live Instagram broadcast by Portable on March 19, during which he reportedly made offensive and defamatory comments about the Fuji icon.
In the viral video, Portable was quoted as saying, “Saheed Osupa, you are big for nothing. If you can’t embrace me, I will drag you. You sing Fuji while I sing hip hop. The same way I used a line from your music is the same way I removed three verses from Pasuma. But Pasuma never report my song. Keep your distance if you can’t embrace me like the way Pasuma abducted me like his own child.”
Osupa considered the remarks damaging to his image and reputation, alleging that the video caused public unrest and subjected him to ridicule.
The charges filed against Portable were said to contravene various provisions of the Penal Code, the Cybercrimes Act of 2015, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.
Portable had been arraigned on Monday before Chief Magistrate Sunday Adeniyi at the Kwara State High Court.
He was granted bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties—one of whom was required to be a PMAN (Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria) chairman, and the other a property owner within the Government Reserved Area (GRA) under the court’s jurisdiction.
However, with Osupa opting for an out-of-court settlement, the case has now been formally withdrawn.
In the letter submitted to the court, Osupa’s legal team urged the court to admonish Portable and warn him against making further disparaging statements or engaging in actions that could harm their client’s reputation or business.
The withdrawal letter read in part:
“We hereby, on behalf of our client, apply to withdraw the case against the defendant and terminate same accordingly, as the matter has been resolved amicably… We further pray the court to admonish the defendant to desist from any further publications, utterances, or actions aimed at disparaging the person and businesses of the nominal complainant.”
