Fuji music veteran, Saheed Osupa, has withdrawn the defamation case against controversial hiphop singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable.
The charges by the police, bordering on “criminal defamation”, were dropped following a private reconciliation effort led by mutual associates in the entertainment industry.
Portable was arrested by the Kwara State Police Command following a petition by Osupa. He was consequently arraigned on Monday and granted bail.
The rift between the two artistes began in March when Portable took to social media to make a series of disparaging remarks about Osupa, questioning his relevance and legacy in the music industry.
The comments quickly went viral, sparking a backlash from fans of the Fuji icon and prompting Osupa to take legal action.
In the heat of the controversy, Osupa’s legal team confirmed that a formal petition had been submitted, and that the singer was seeking redress for what they described as “deliberate attacks on his reputation.”
The case was expected to proceed in court before the sudden announcement of its withdrawal.
On Monday, April 14, Osupa’s management released a statement confirming the development.
“Alhaji (Dr.) Saheed Osupa has decided to drop all charges against Habeeb Okikiola a.k.a. Portable in the interest of peace and unity in the Nigerian entertainment industry. The decision followed a series of private meetings and interventions by respected industry figures,” the statement read.
As part of the withdrawal agreement, Portable is expected to meet certain conditions.
These include retracting a statement that implied Osupa would be responsible if anything happened to him, confessing to the falsehood of his lawyer’s claim about begging Osupa for forgiveness, and signing an undertaking to refrain from cyberbullying, defamation, and character assassination in the future.
Sources close to the situation revealed that Portable reached out to Osupa through intermediaries and expressed regret over his comments.
During one of the peace meetings, the ‘Zazuu Zeh’ crooner was said to have tendered a personal apology to the Fuji maestro, acknowledging his missteps and pleading for forgiveness.
Speaking on the development, Saheed Osupa said, “As someone who has spent decades building a name in this industry, I understand the importance of discipline, but I also know that peace is priceless. I have chosen to forgive, not because I wasn’t hurt, but because I believe in the power of reconciliation.”
The resolution has been met with praise from fans and fellow entertainers, many of whom described Osupa’s decision as a sign of maturity and leadership.
Some also urged Portable to learn from the incident and embrace a more respectful approach in his public dealings.
