Portable Versus Osupa Case: 'Africa's Problem', Portable, Finally Regains Freedom in Kwara After Sowore's Intervention
Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that a Nigerian politician, human rights activist, Omoyele Yele Sowore, widely known as Sowore has disclosed that controversial singer, Badmus Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has gained his freedom shortly after his Intervention.
OTN News further reports that Sowore who disclosed this in a post shared on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon, said that he had a conversation with Osupa, during which the musician explained that his use of the police was intended to show he had no involvement in any attempt to harm Portable.
He noted that Osupa, however, acknowledged that his actions might have been seen as using the police for repression, so as a result of that, he decided to drop the charges that had led to Portable’s incarceration in a prison in Ilorin after failing to meet bail conditions on Monday.
OTN News recalls that Fuji Star, Okunola Saheed, fondly called Osupa had made a direct complaint to the police, accusing Portable of criminal defamation, criminal intimidation, inciting public disturbance and cyberstalking.
The alleged offence was deemed 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.
OTN News further recalls that on Monday, the Kwara State Police Command dragged Portable before the court following the petition from Osupa.
It would also be recalled that the Chief Magistrate, Sunday Adeniyi, had on Monday, in his short ruling, admitted Portable to bail in the sum of N1 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.
However, Portable was said to have failed to meet up with the bail which later made him unable to secure his release.
Subsequently, Sowore speaking on the issue, maintained that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) should not be used to enforce civil disputes and called for an end to the misuse of cybercrime charges.
Moment later, Sowore returned to his Facebook page to confirm Portable’s release from Oke Kura Custorial Centre in Ilorin.
Furthermore, OTN News observes that the Fuji Star, solicitor also confirmed the filing for withdrawal of the case at the Upper Area Court 1, High Court, Ilorin.
He said 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.” the statement read.
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