Archive April 14, 2025

Operatives of the Kwara Police Command have arrested controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, better known as “Portable”.

In a statement, the spokesman of the Kwara Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said that Portable’s arrest followed a petition received from one Mr. Okunola Saheed, popularly known as “Osupa”.

“The petition borders on serious allegations which includes criminal defamation, threat to life, incitement, character assassination, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and the use of abusive and insulting words,” the statement read partly.

“In view of the weight of these allegations and the supporting evidence presented, the Command secured a valid arrest warrant from a Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin.”

“Acting on this warrant, operatives from the Command proceeded to Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday, 13th April 2025, where the suspect was apprehended at about 19:25hrs. He was immediately brought to Ilorin for further investigation.

“Upon his arrival, the suspect’s statement was taken in the presence of legal representatives from both parties. He is currently in custody, and arrangements are being made to charge him to court without delay.”

READ ALSO: Soyinka Calls For Reversal Of Ban On Eedris Abdulkareem’s Song

The “Zaazoo” crooner had used a line Osupa is known for, a move that led to the Fuji star’s team filing a complaint. 

Portable had earlier called out Osupa, using unflattering names, triggering a social media backlash. He, however, later apologised to the Fuji singer over the outburst, blaming his temper for the development.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW

KWARA STATE POLICE COMMAND.

PRESS STATEMENT.

13th April, 2025

ARREST OF HABEEB OKIKIOLA BADMUS (AKA PORTABLE) OVER AN ALLEGED CRIMINAL DEFAMATION AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES.

The Kwara State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that following a petition received from one Mr. Okunola Saheed, popularly known as “Osupa,” against Mr. Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, also known in the entertainment industry as “Portable”. Police detectives of Kwara Command have taken lawful steps in line with due process to investigate the allegations.

The petition borders on serious allegations which includes criminal defamation, threat to life, incitement, character assassination, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and the use of abusive and insulting words.
In view of the weight of these allegations and the supporting evidence presented, the Command secured a valid arrest warrant from a Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin.

Acting on this warrant, operatives from the Command proceeded to Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday, 13th April 2025, where the suspect was apprehended at about 19:25hrs. He was immediately brought to Ilorin for further investigations.

Upon his arrival, the suspect’s statement was taken in the presence of legal representatives from both parties. He is currently in custody and arrangements are being made to charge him to court without delay.

The Kwara State Police Command remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served in a fair and transparent manner. We urge members of the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information. Further updates on the case will be communicated as events unfold.

Nigerian singer and rapper Eedris Abdulkareem says he didn’t attack Seyi Tinubu with his new song, stressing that he only replied to a statement made by the entrepreneur that his father, President Bola Tinubu, is Nigeria’s best-ever president.

The younger Tinubu made the statement in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, in March 2025.

The rapper said his new song ‘ Tell Your Papa ‘ was not an attack on Seyi but a call for the president’s son to tell his father to address Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.

“Nigerian youths are just asking for basics: electricity, security, enabling economic environment, job creation and not palliatives”, Abdulkareem said on Channels Television’s Rubbin ‘ Minds programme on Sunday.

“So, why should I attack Seyi Tinubu personally? If Seyi Tinubu never talked about it, I wouldn’t have recorded a song like that. So, I am replying to the video that he made. If he had kept quiet, I wouldn’t have said anything. I am inspired by Seyi Tinubu to record that song”.

READ ALSO: Soyinka Calls For Reversal Of Ban On Eedris Abdulkareem’s Song

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) immediately tagged Abdulkareem’s new song as inappropriate and banned it on radio and television.

The ban has been faulted by many Nigerians including Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, who described the development as a return of censorship and a threat to the right to free speech.

During the television programme, Abdulkareem lamented that 24 years after he released a previous song, ‘ Nigeria jagajaga’, the song is still relevant because Nigeria has not experienced the necessary development.

He said, “I was inspired by Seyi Tinubu to record the song. I saw a video where he was campaigning for his father and he was defending his father, saying ‘ My father is the best president, my father is the greatest president, they are coming for my father… ‘

” He (Seyi) repeated it like six times. But for Seyi, I differ because it looks more perfect when you are silent than when you speak. I would advise Seyi to hand over the microphone to the MC next time. He lacks the charisma and purpose to express himself, telling the truth about the true economic situation in Nigeria under his father’s government. “

Kunle Afolayan, a filmmaker and actor from Nigeria, has unveiled his film village, known as Kunle Afolayan Productions (KAP) Film Village and Resort.

Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, and Hannatu Musawa, the minister of art, culture, and the creative economy, on Saturday, commissioned the film village in Igbojaye, Oyo State.

The excited Afolayan stated that the “film village” will be revealed for posterity as opposed to for himself.

If my children like to know my name, I have established something in my name and it will be forever remembered.

READ MORE: Bernie Sanders Kicks Off Coachella Crowd With Surprise Appearance

Anikulaopo, Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, and Ijogbon are three well-known productions from the Nigerian film industry that KAP Film Village and Resort has hosted.

Watch the full video below:

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has stated that her goal is to establish Nigeria as a cultural and creative hub.

Musawa made this known on Saturday at the grand opening of the Igbojaye, Oyo State, KAP Film Village and Resort.

She claimed that in order to accomplish this, the federal government has begun working with state governments.

READ MORE: Gov Makinde’s Tourism Strategy Remains The Heart of Our Economic Strategy

She praised Kunle Afolayan, a producer of movies in Nigeria, for creating the film village and promising to work with the director to improve the location’s viability.

“We’re looking at making Nigeria the cultural and creative hub of Africa, and I think you’re going to do a lot to help me create that narrative,” he said.

Therefore, I must say thanks to you for doing a lot of the work for me and for us as well, according to Musawa.

As he made a pit stop at the biggest music festival on Saturday, US senator Bernie Sanders drew a sizable crowd to his top cameo performance.

Screaming fans rushed over to see the politician’s unannounced speech, which came after Charli XCX’s blockbuster set at a nearby stage.

At the major California desert double weekend, which officially marks the start of the music festival season, Sanders said, “This country faces some very difficult challenges and the future of what happens to America depends on your generation.”

You have the option of refusing to participate or to ignore what transpires, but you do so at your own risk. You must stand up and fight for social justice, racial justice, and economic justice.

Also read: Lady Gaga Brings Mayhem to the Desert at Coachella Day One.

A rally Sanders and Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez held earlier that day that included musicians like Joan Baez, Maggie Rogers, and Neil Young, was held before their own “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, which organizers claimed attracted 36, 000 people.

Sanders urged attendees to stand up for US President Donald Trump’s administration and billionaires at Coachella while under a full moon.

Before the crowd’s boos quickly drowned out Trump’s name, Sanders said, “Now we have a president of the United States.”

Sanders continued, “I agree.” He believes that climate change is a hoax. You and I will have to speak up against the fossil fuel industry and demand that they stop destroying this planet because he is dangerously incorrect.

“Exactly the move,” the phrase says.

Sanders thanked Clairo for using her platform to support social justice causes and introduced her to the stage.

He said, “I’m here because Clairo has used her prominence to fight for women’s rights and to end the bloody, brutal war in Gaza, where thousands of women and children are being murdered.” So I want to thank Clairo for her excellent work as well as her band.

Coachella, I appreciate it.

Tonight, I had a great time introducing the great @clairo.

These are challenging times.

The younger generation needs to take the lead in the fight against climate change, defend women’s rights, and create a society that benefits everyone, not just the elite. pic. Twitter.com/twitter.com/fr/sgvKAuNYY

I love Bernie Sanders, the message was so popular! as the self-described socialist senator who caucuses with Democrats wrapped up his speech screamed one festivalgoer.

Samara Guillory, age 21, was one of the musicians who hurriedly to Sanders’ stage.

Senator Sanders’ level of competence, according to Guillory, “was very important,” Guillory told AFP. We are the new generation and America’s future.

“Coming here, talking to us, spreading awareness,” to be honest, “I think this was exactly the move.”

Like many other Nollywood productions, the Nigerian filmmaker Omoni Oboli’s film “Love in Every Word” received over 20 million views on YouTube in the first three months of this year.

After President Bola Tinubu stopped providing gasoline subsidies that kept prices low all the way down and stopped support for the local currency, Nigerians are now facing one of the most difficult economic crises in decades.

While many clients are offended by the price-hiking spree that is currently taking place on streaming platforms, cable TV, and internet service providers.

In a nation where more than half of the 230 million people in poverty, the World Bank estimates that Netflix’s monthly subscription fees increased by two to 7, 000 naira ($4.50) from 4, 400 naira ($4.50) for its premium package.

According to Lagos-based think tank SBM Intelligence, many people are cutting back on their entertainment costs, including cable and streaming services.

Nigeria’s massive film industry, Nollywood, has an average weekly release of 50 movies, which is second only to Bollywood in the world.

Adeleke Adesola, a 31-year-old health worker from Ibadan’s southwest, has switched to watching movies on YouTube because of how much it costs and how it is interactive.

When I read a comment that discusses a scene or movie, I feel good. Additionally, she explained to AFP, “I don’t have to pay monthly subscription to access YouTube movies.”

MultiChoice, a pay TV provider in Africa, reported losing nearly a quarter of a million subscribers between April and September 2024.

Production reductions

Netflix, a streaming juggernaut, has cut back on commissioning new productions in Nigeria despite an increase in subscriptions last year.

Similar thinking has also been applied by Prime Video.

Consumers and filmmakers are turning to YouTube and other less expensive options as movie tickets are now viewed by millions in the west African economic powerhouse.

Kazeem Adeoti, a co-founder of the iBAKATV YouTube channel, reported a significant increase in the number of full-length movies available on the site.

He claimed that several of the best actors owned YouTube channels so they could directly sell their movies to viewers.

“less expensive” YouTube movies

YouTube’s revenue is affected by factors like watch time, viewer engagement, copyright ownership, and viewer’s location.

According to Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, a spokesman for Google West Africa, “we consistently see high watch time,” which indicates a strong interest in Nollywood content.

“This increased watch time benefits the creators as well as increasing the YouTube ad revenue.”

Due to the lack of guidelines on the types of cameras used, the costumes used, or the language mixes, Seun Oloketuyi, the founder of the Best of Nollywood (BON) awards, claimed that because of this, YouTube had become more popular with filmmakers.

According to Oloketuyi, “Movies shot for YouTube are significantly less expensive than those shown in theaters or on digital streaming platforms.”

“It seems like a win-win situation for filmmakers because they can make good money while producing significantly less money while still keeping the rights to the movies.”

The contract terms for Nigerian filmmakers have now changed, despite the claims that Netflix and Prime have no intention of leaving the country.