Portable Facing Legal Action After US Visa Denial

Nigerian street artist Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has once again found himself in the spotlight for negative reasons.

According to a statement released by Potpourri, Portable entered into an agreement with a US-based music promoter, Musibau Olawale Babalola, to collaborate on a series of musical concerts in 8-10 North American cities.

In exchange for Portable’s performance, Babalola promised to secure an American visa for Portable and his crew members.

Babalola fulfilled his end of the deal by engaging the services of an American attorney and paying $12,000 for a work permit for Portable to legally perform in the designated US cities.

Babalola also paid the $3,950 statutory fee for a US Citizenship and Immigration Services work permit on behalf of Portable.

However, Portable was denied a visa on two occasions due to his unprofessional conduct at the US embassy, including answering questions in a local language that was not understood by the consular.

Babalola speculated that Portable’s denial of a visa may have been due to his claims on social media of being a founding member of a dreaded cult group, which is against US visa regulations.

“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.

Following the visa denial, Portable agreed to refund all the expenses incurred by Babalola, but reneged on his promise to pay the balance of N6 million.

Babalola engaged the services of M. B. Fabunmi Esq of law firm Messrs Hoxton Partners to commence legal proceedings against Portable to recover the debt and damages.

In response, Portable’s lawyer denied owing Babalola $29,890 but admitted to owing N8 million, from which N2 million has been paid.

The case is still ongoing.