The case, which had seen Portable remanded by an Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State for failing to meet bail conditions, stemmed from a petition Osupa filed accusing the singer of criminal defamation, threats to life, incitement, character assassination, and public misconduct.
However, in a statement shared on Osupa’s Instagram account on Tuesday and signed by his media aide, Busari Babatunde, the Fuji veteran announced his decision to drop the charges. The statement noted that the withdrawal came after fervent appeals from several notable figures in Nigeria’s entertainment and business circles.
Conditions for Withdrawal
Though the charges have been dropped, Osupa made it clear that forgiveness came with terms. Portable must:
- Publicly retract his claim suggesting Osupa should be held responsible for any harm that befalls him.
- Confess that his lawyer’s statement—claiming Osupa had physically held his leg while begging for forgiveness—was false, as the two never met in person.
- Sign an undertaking to desist from any future acts of cyberbullying, defamation, or character assassination.
The statement emphasized that if these conditions are not met, legal proceedings may resume.
Not Personal, but Principled
According to Babatunde, Osupa's initial legal move was not born out of personal animosity, but rather a desire to set a precedent for responsibility and respect within the Nigerian music industry, especially among younger artists.
He noted that Osupa was especially moved by Portable's plight after being remanded, and that the withdrawal reflected both compassion and a hope for the younger artist’s growth and reform.
Industry Intervention and Reconciliation
A follow-up statement by Osupa’s legal counsel, Jimoh Opalekunde of Equity Fortress Chambers, echoed the sentiment of reconciliation. It confirmed that industry stakeholders and respected community figures—including Alhaji Ahmad Lawal, Saheed Ibile, and representatives of the Olufimo Royal Parliament—intervened to mediate the conflict.
The legal counsel also requested the court to admonish Portable to avoid making further disparaging comments about Osupa, either publicly or privately.
The Origin of the Feud
The conflict began when Osupa reported Portable for copyright infringement, which led to the removal of the latter’s 2023 track ‘Fuji Shakushaku’ from Apple Music. This sparked an angry online tirade by Portable, who lashed out at Osupa, calling him “big for nothing” in several social media posts.
Following backlash and pressure to apologize, Portable later retracted his statements and publicly apologized, attributing his outburst to frustration over his song being pulled from streaming platforms.
A Teachable Moment for the Industry
While the legal conflict has been resolved, the situation serves as a cautionary tale for artists navigating fame in the digital age. It highlights the importance of respecting intellectual property, maintaining professionalism, and understanding the long-term consequences of online behavior.
For Osupa, the episode stands as a reflection of leadership balanced with mercy—and for Portable, perhaps a pivotal moment in a career marked as much by controversy as by creativity.
As the dust settles, all eyes are on Portable to see whether he’ll meet the conditions set forth and turn the page toward a more respectful and mature chapter in his career.