By Saheed Osupa Akorede and fellow singer Habeeb Okikiola, widely known as Portable. Activist and politician Omoyele Sowore has announced that Osupa has decided to withdraw his defamation case against Portable, which was being heard at an Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Sowore shared this significant development on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon, revealing that he had engaged in a conversation with Osupa. According to Sowore, Osupa explained that his initial decision to involve the police was primarily to demonstrate his lack of connection to any alleged attempts to harm Portable. However, Osupa reportedly acknowledged that his actions might have inadvertently been perceived as using the police for oppressive purposes.
As a direct consequence of this realization, Osupa has chosen to drop the charges that led to Portable’s recent incarceration in an Ilorin prison. Portable had been remanded in custody after failing to meet the bail conditions set on Monday. Sowore has been vocal in his criticism of the Nigeria Police Force’s (NPF) involvement in what he considers a civil dispute. He reiterated his stance that the police should not be utilized to enforce matters of this nature and called for an end to the misuse of cybercrime charges.
Shortly after his initial announcement, Sowore returned to his Facebook page with further positive news. He confirmed that Portable had indeed been released from the Oke Kura Custodial Centre in Ilorin, bringing an end to the singer’s brief period of detention. This development marks a significant de-escalation in the public feud between the two musicians, seemingly facilitated by Sowore’s intervention and Osupa’s willingness to reconsider his legal action.
The resolution of this case raises important questions about the appropriate role of law enforcement in resolving disputes between individuals, particularly within the entertainment industry. Sowore’s advocacy against the use of police in civil matters and the misuse of cybercrime charges will likely continue to resonate within the Nigerian public discourse.
