Entertainment
Portable In Trouble After US Visa Denial
Again, Portable, the well-known Nigerian street artist whose real name is Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, has made headlines for a negative cause.
Potpourri received a statement indicating that Portable had reached an agreement with one Mr. Musibau Olawale Babalola, a music promoter based in the United States and the Chief Executive of Fathia Entertainment LLC, to collaborate on a musical concert.
The agreement stipulated that Portable would perform in 8-10 cities in North America, and the promoter would obtain an American Visa for Portable and his crew members.
Fulfilling his own end of the deal, the promoter engaged the services of American Attorney and paid the sum of $12,000:00( Twelve thousand US dollars) to secure a work permit for Portable to enable him transverse the designated US cities for the shows, in consonance with US immigration laws.
The promoter also said he paid the sum of $3,950 statutory fee for USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services work permit on behalf of Portable.
The promoter also submitted that he paid Portable the sum of $2,500, N3.4M and N1M respectively and a date was fixed for Visa interview at America Embassy.
“Portable in his characteristic manner, displayed unprofessional conduct at US embassy and exhibited other sundry abrasive behaviors and was denied visa on two occasions. All the pertinent questions normally asked of a visa applicant were posed to Portable and instead of him answering the question in simple English he understands, instead he decided to answer the Consular in his local language, obviously not understood by the Consular,” the promoter said.
“Portable’s denial of visa could be predicated on his claims on social media of being the founding member of a dreaded cult group. The US Embassy does not issue visas to people of questionable character and therefore could be one of the reasons he was denied visa,” he added.
After the visa denial saga, there was an agreement between the promoter and Portable, that the latter will refund all the expenses incurred.
Considering the circumstances, the promoter said he reduced the amount to be refunded to N8M and Portable agreed to make the payment, but pleaded to do so in 5 installments.
Portable made the first installment of N2M, but reneged on his promise to balance up. Due to Portable’s refusal to effect the balance payment, the music promoter engaged the services of M. B. Fabunmi Esq of law firm of Messrs Hoxton Partners to commence a legal proceedings against Zazzu star to recover the said debt and damages.
In the Lawyer”s letter to Portable, the sums of $29,890 and N3.4M were demanded from him and
Although his lawyer denied owing the music promoter $29,890, Portable admitted to owing a total of N8M, of which N2M has already been paid. The case has been assigned to Honourable Justice Ogala of the Ikeja High Court.
Nollywood actress Annie Idibia has reappeared on social media nearly two months after her widely publicized separation from Nigerian music icon 2Baba.
Her return to Instagram has drawn significant attention, especially after she wiped her account clean, deleting all previous posts.
The actress’ sudden social media reset has fueled speculation about a fresh start, as fans and industry watchers analyze her next move.
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Annie and 2Baba, who share two children, officially ended their marriage in January 2025, following a public announcement by the singer.
Reports indicate that Annie sought rehabilitation after the breakup, while 2Baba has since moved on and is engaged to Edo lawmaker Natasha Osawaru.
Fans remain eager to see what comes next for the actress.
Nollywood actor Kunle Remi and his wife, Tiwi, are celebrating the arrival of their first child after enduring a difficult medical journey filled with unexpected challenges.
Sharing the news on Instagram on Wednesday, Remi reflected on the trials they faced, including a premature birth that required their baby to spend 80 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
He also revealed that Tiwi had to be on complete bed rest following a surprising medical discovery, while they both managed demanding schedules and frequent travel.
READ ALSO: Actor Kunle Remi Ties the Knot In Elegant Church Wedding [Video]
“From an early arrival… to the unfolding of God’s perfect timing. Our story is living proof that God is God — unfailing, unwavering, and faithful till the very end,” Remi wrote, expressing gratitude for their journey.
Kunle and Tiwi’s love story captured public attention when the actor proposed during a visit to the U.S. in early 2024.
The couple later tied the knot in a grand wedding in January, attended by many Nollywood stars.
Following the announcement, fans, colleagues, and well-wishers flooded social media with congratulatory messages, celebrating the couple’s resilience and the joyous arrival of their baby.
The public dispute between renowned singer Timi Dakolo and Pastor Femi Lazarus has intensified, with Dakolo now accusing the Light Nation Church founder of profiting from ministry teachings.
The controversy first erupted when the two clashed over whether gospel artistes should charge fees for performing at church events.
Pastor Lazarus, in a widely circulated video, argued that gospel musicians should not demand payment for ministering, insisting that they should trust God for provision rather than seeking financial gain.
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According to him, gospel artistes are not mere entertainers but ministers of the gospel.
Dakolo, however, pushed back against this view, accusing pastors of pressuring gospel singers to offer their services for free.
He defended their right to earn a living, pointing out the financial responsibilities they face.
He also suggested that instead of expecting professional gospel musicians to perform without payment, pastors should focus on developing their church choirs.
Clarifying his stance, Dakolo stated that his response was made out of respect and love. He emphasized that, while he grew up in the church, he does not identify as a gospel artist.
However, he then shifted the discussion by accusing Pastor Lazarus of charging students for enrollment in his ministry school, which provides Christian teachings.
According to Dakolo, the school’s enrollment fee is approximately $150 per student, with about 1,000 students reportedly registered. He backed up his claims by sharing a screenshot that allegedly details the fee structure.
He criticized the pastor for monetizing what he described as a “freely given gift and revelation.”
“All this was said in love and with respect, sir. I am not a gospel artist but a Christian raised in church. Let’s not shift the goal post,” Dakolo stated.
“By your definition, if anyone charges to minister, they are not gospel artists; they are performers. And by that definition, if any preacher charges to teach and minister, they are merchants of hope and motivational speakers too.”
Questioning the structure of the ministry school, he added:
“Sir, you are charging as low as $150 per person for your school of ministry, teaching and preaching Jesus, probably having as much as 1,000 students. Let’s do the maths. You even have premium and standard for God’s house? Are you not selling the gift and revelation freely given to you? Again, let’s not keep shifting the goal post.”
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