Osupa prevents Portable from re-arrest after being let off the hook over N6.3m music contract he allegedly failed to perform
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Singer Portable (real name Habeeb Okikiola) was on Tuesday prevented from re-arrest over another petition against him for allegedly collecting N6.3 million for a music contract he failed to perform.
Portable was still struggling to meet the N1 million and other bail conditions imposed by a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ilorin over alleged cyberstalking and defamation of Okunola Saheed, also known as Osupa, when another trouble surfaced.
Osupa had to intervene to prevent Portable from being re-arrested by police for allegedly collecting N6.3 million for a show he did not perform.
Yemi George, Managing Director Starwood Hotels, Ilorin, said Osupa prevailed on him not to re-arrest Portable over the alleged contract default.
“I have obtained every necessary document to re-arrest him today [Tuesday] to refund my money but out of respect for the legendary fuji musician [Osupa] who prevailed on me not to,” said, per The PUNCH.
“My company, Starwood Hotels O2 Arena in collaboration with the leadership of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria put an event together for Portable to perform but he never did.”
George’s petition alleged that Portable was paid N6.3 million on 22 July 2024 to perform at the ‘Kwara Tampan Fiesta’ on 29 September 2024 but failed to appear on stage at the time agreed.
Despite arriving over 16 hours late, he allegedly sneaked out of his hotel lodging without fulfilling the deal.
The petition claim that Portable’s actions caused significant financial loss and distress, and sought investigation, prosecution and restitution of the N6.3 million contract sum allegedly obtained through fraudulent means.
The petition was signed by Olu Amusan (TAMPAN governor) and Ayodele Demokun on behalf of Starwood Hotels 02 Arena.
Mediation by some individuals had led to Osupa agreeing to settle his own case with Portable out of court and withdraw it from the ducket, in a letter he presented to the court through his solicitor Opalekunde Ahmed.
Ahmed said Osupa mandated him to withdraw the case following intervention and pleas from notable stakeholders.
However, the withdrawal letter conveyed Osupa’s warning that Portable desists from further publications or utterances disparaging his person.
The letter reads: “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.”
Portable, a street musician, has a history of being arrested and subsequently released.
In February 2025, he was declared wanted by Ogun Police Command over alleged attack on government officials at his bar in Iyana Ilogbo who went there to enforce regulatory compliance.
Portable was subsequently charged to court and granted N2 million bail. He promised publicly not to cause trouble again.
In 2024, he became a trending topic on social media after being arrested on May 14 over a debt he incurred for buying a N27 million Mercedes G-Wagon from a dealer.
Videos across social media platforms showed Portable being spoken to by policemen who read out his arrest warrant to him, before he leapt over a gate and ran away. A second video showed him resisting arrest after being apprehended by policemen who carried him to their patrol vehicle.
In 2023, Portable was arrested on March 31 after ignoring a 72-hour ultimatum given by Ogun Police Command to turn himself in. It followed allegation that he assaulted a man at his Odogwu Bar in the state.
After spending the weekend in custody, he was arraigned in court and granted bail.
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