An Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has granted singer Portable bail in the sum of N1 million.
The controversial singer was arraigned before the court today April 14 for criminal defamation, intimidation, inciting public disturbance, and cyberstalking. He was arrested following a petition of alleged defamation of Character and threat to life filed by his senior colleague, Okunola Saheed aka Osupa.
Osupa had accused Portable of making live stream videos to abuse him, adding that the defendant (Portable) dented his image after claiming that he removed his music from Apple Music and Spotify.
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.