Ilorin: An Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara, has remanded controversial Nigerian singer, Badmus Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, in the Oke-Kura Correctional Centre. Portable was arraigned before the Kwara Upper Area Court in Ilorin, charged with criminal defamation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Portable was brought to court following a petition from a famous Fuji music star, Okunola Saheed, also known as Osupa. The Police First Information Report (FIR) indicated that Osupa accused Portable of criminal defamation, criminal intimidation, inciting public disturbance, and cyberstalking. Osupa further alleged that Portable had made a live stream video to verbally abuse him.
The accusations also included claims by Portable that Osupa removed the former’s music from Apple Music and Spotify, which allegedly affected Portable’s revenue. The government prosecutor, Abubakar Issa, requested the court to remand Portable in the correctional facility pending the police investigation of the matter.
Counsel to Portable, Mr. Isaac Adebayo, argued against the prosecutor’s submission, stating that the police would not have arraigned his client if investigations were incomplete. Adebayo highlighted that Portable was granted administrative bail on April 14 and emphasized that his client, being a public figure with a traceable address, would attend trial if granted bail.
Adebayo based his argument on Sections 172 (1) and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, suggesting that these sections should guide the court in granting bail. Judge Mr. Sunday Adeniyi, in his ruling, admitted Portable to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties, specifying that one surety must be the chairman of PMAN and must own a property in the GRA.
The judge adjourned the case until April 30 for further mention. However, Portable did not meet the bail condition and was subsequently remanded in Oke-Kura Correctional Centre Ilorin until he fulfills the bail requirements.