Nigerian street-pop singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has questioned rapper Zlatan Ibile over a reported ₦504 million balance displayed on the rapper’s account, triggering a fresh exchange between the two artistes.
The controversy began after Zlatan shared what appeared to be a screenshot showing more than ₦500 million in an account on Sunday, September 6, 2026. The post quickly attracted attention online, with social media users debating the source and authenticity of the displayed balance.
Portable joined the conversation in a video posted on social media, expressing disbelief that an artiste could have such a large amount sitting in a personal account. According to reports, the singer questioned how a musician could legitimately accumulate and keep about ₦500 million in one account from music.
Portable went further by alleging that musicians with such sums could be involved in money laundering or cartel-related activities. He did not provide evidence to support the allegation against Zlatan. “It’s not possible for a musician to have ₦500m in his account. Most of these musicians are involved in money laundering and cartel businesses,” Portable was quoted as saying. The singer also challenged Zlatan to explain how many shows he had performed recently, apparently questioning whether earnings from music performances could account for the amount displayed.
Portable, however, claimed that he was familiar with handling sums of more than ₦500 million himself. He also referred to a potential Fanta ambassadorship deal, saying he expected an endorsement arrangement to bring him a comparable amount. Zlatan did not take long to respond. In a social media post directed at Portable, the rapper appeared to mock the singer’s comments about his finances and his reference to Fanta. “With all the soap and Fanta, N500m still go far for my guy eye,” Zlatan wrote. The response immediately fuelled further reactions from fans, turning what began as a discussion about a bank balance into another public exchange between the two artistes.
The latest episode adds to the history of tension between Portable and Zlatan. Portable has previously spoken publicly about Zlatan, including an earlier dispute surrounding his attempt to meet Davido during an event in the United Kingdom. Portable had accused Zlatan of preventing him from gaining access to Davido, a claim that contributed to the strained relationship between the two street-pop figures. Their latest exchange, however, centres on money rather than music.
Zlatan’s reported account display has also raised broader conversations online about how Nigerian artistes make money and the different income streams available to successful entertainers. Music earnings can come from several sources, including streaming, live performances, private appearances and brand endorsements. The actual value of many private deals is rarely made public, making it difficult for outsiders to determine an artiste’s total earnings from social media posts alone.
In this case, the displayed balance has been widely reported as about ₦504 million, but the reports do not independently establish the source of the funds or provide evidence that the money was obtained through any illegal activity. Portable’s comments therefore remain allegations and questions raised publicly by the singer, rather than established facts. For Zlatan, the response suggests that he has chosen to treat the controversy as a social-media exchange, responding to Portable with humour rather than publicly addressing the allegation about the source of the money. The episode has nevertheless revived interest in the relationship between two artistes who have both built strong identities within Nigeria’s street-pop music scene.
For now, neither artiste has indicated that the exchange goes beyond their latest social-media confrontation. But as fans continue to react, the ₦504 million screenshot has become the latest trigger for another public Portable-Zlatan clash.