A Nigerian musician and Fuji Star, Okunola Saheed, known as Osupa, has withdrawn his case against a controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly called Portable, Osupa’s solicitor, Ahmed Opalekunde, confirmed on Tuesday, providing a filing for withdrawal of the case at the Upper Area Court 1, High Court in the southwestern city of Ilorin.
The Kwara State Police Command had on Monday dragged Portable before the court following a petition from Osupa, who accused Portable of criminal defamation, criminal intimidation, inciting public disturbance and cyberstalking.
The alleged offence was said to be 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.
However, Osupa’s solicitor told a local newspaper that 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.”
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore also confirmed the withdrawal of the case in a post on social media platform X, asking police to refrain from using ‘cybercrime’ charges against anyone in the future.
Osupa, among others, alleged that Portable made a live stream video to abuse him, adding that the defendant (Portable) damaged his reputation by claiming that he removed his music from Apple Music and Spotify, which would have been fetching him income.
The complainant further accused Portable of using a live stream video to malign his character.
Osupa alleged that the defendant falsely claimed to have removed his music from streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, thereby harming his reputation and potential income.
The petition alleged 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.
In the viral 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 na tortoise. When Apple Music and Spotify wan drop money for me, na him remove my song from platform make I no see money.”
Osupa described the statements as damaging, inciting, and an attack on his reputation, further claiming that the content had caused public tension and unrest.
The Chief Magistrate Sunday Adeniyi had on Monday, in his short ruling, admitted Portable to bail in the sum of ₦1 million 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.
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