Nigeria fuji icon, Saheed Akorede, popularly known as Osupa, on Tuesday prevented the re-arrest of Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, after another petition surfaced against him.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Osupa discontinued his case against Portable on Tuesday, following an appeal by prominent Nigerians to settle the matter out of court.
In a new development, the Managing Director of Starwood Hotels Ilorin, Mr Yemi George, told NAN on Tuesday that Osupa prevailed on him not to re-arrest Portable after the embattled singer collected N6.3m for a show that he did not perform.
“I have obtained every necessary document to re-arrest him today (Tuesday) in order to refund my money, but out of respect for the legendary Fuji musician (Osupa), he prevailed on me not to.
“My company, Starwood Hotels O2 Arena, in collaboration with the leadership of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, put an event together for Portable to perform, but he never did,” George said.
According to a document obtained by NAN, titled ‘Petition for fraudulent and obtaining by false pretense the sum of N6.3m,’ the petitioners said they entered agreement with Portable on July 22, 2024, which he never respected.
According to the petition, Portable was paid N6.3m to perform at the ‘Kwara Tampan Fiesta’ on September 29, 2024, but failed to appear on stage at the agreed-upon time.
Despite arriving over 16 hours late, he allegedly sneaked out of his hotel lodge without fulfilling his promise to perform.
The petitioners claimed that Portable’s actions caused significant financial loss and distress, and they are seeking a thorough investigation, prosecution, and restitution of the N6,300,000 allegedly obtained through fraudulent means.
The petition was signed by Chief Olu Amusan, Governor, TAMPAN and Ayodele Demokun on behalf of Starwood Hotels 02 Arena
NAN recalls that the Police Public Relations Officer of Kwara command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, had in a statement on Sunday confirmed the arrest of Portable following a petition received from Osupa.
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The petition borders on serious allegations which include criminal defamation, threat to life, incitement, character assassination, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and the use of abusive and insulting words.
NAN