The Kwara State Police Command, on Monday, arraigned controversial singer, Badmus Habeeb Okikiola, popularly called Portable, before a Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State.
LEADERSHIP reports that Portable was earlier on Saturday arrested by men of the Kwara State Police Command in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, following a petition written against him by a fuji musician, Saheed Osupa Akorede.
Just like the police said in a statement confirming the arrest of Portable, the controversial musician was arraigned before the court presided by Hon. Sunday Adeniyi.
The Police First Information Report (FIR) said that Osupa accused Portable of criminal defamation, criminal intimidation, inciting public disturbance and cyber stalking.
Osupa had accused Portable of making live stream videos to abuse him, adding that the defendant (Portable) dented his image for claiming that he removed his music from Apple Music and Spotify that would have been fetching him some income.
The Police prosecutor, Abubakar Issa, urged the court to remand Portable in a correctional facility, pending the completion of police investigation on the matter.
Counsel to Portable, Barr. Adebayo Issac, however, urged the court to discountenance the submission of the prosecutor, saying the police would have held the defendant back in custody till their investigation was completed.
He told the court that his client was granted administrative bail on Sunday by the Police, maintaining that Portable is a public figure with traceable address and will make himself available for trial if admitted to bail.
Adebayo said he premised his argument on Section 172 (1) and Section 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice System, adding that critical appraisal of the sections of the law may guide the court to admit Portable to bail.
The presiding judge, Hon. Sunday Adeniyi, in his short ruling, admitted Portable to bail in the sum of N1 million, two sureties in which one of them must be chairman of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) .
He, thereafter, adjourned the matter to April 30, 2025.
