For many Nigerians, the name “Portable” instantly calls up the image of a controversial street-pop star. But long before chart-topping fame and viral outbursts, the name already belonged to someone else… a Nollywood actor whose own story is now unfolding in the public eye for very different reasons.
Olu Olowogemo Harejan, known within Yoruba film circles as Mr Portable, is at the center of a growing personal dispute that has spilled beyond private walls and into public conversation. What began as accusations from an ex-partner has quickly evolved into a tense back-and-forth, defined by claims of abandonment, questions of fidelity, and a demand that has stalled any resolution: a DNA test.
Who Is Mr Portable?
At the center of the controversy is Olu Olowogemo, a Yoruba Nollywood actor and producer better known in the movie industry as Portable Harejan or Mr Portable.
Long before the name became synonymous with street-pop fame, Harejan had already built a presence within the Yoruba movie industry, particularly in comic and character-driven roles. He is widely recognized as a comic actor and entertainer, with a style that blends humour, exaggeration, and social commentary, both on-screen and across his social media platforms.
Though not positioned among Nollywood’s A-list elite, he has remained a visible and active figure within the Yoruba film circuit, with a career that predates the recent wave of streaming-driven visibility. His online presence has also helped sustain his relevance in a rapidly evolving industry landscape.
His personal life has also remained part of his public image. He is married to actress Ebunoluwa Edafe, and the couple welcomed a child together in 2024.
Taken together, Harejan Portable represents a category of Nollywood figures who may not dominate mainstream headlines but remain deeply embedded in the industry’s fabric.
The Ex-Wife’s Allegations
At the center of the unfolding dispute is a woman identified as Fatima Momoh, who has publicly claimed to be the actor’s first wife and the mother of his now 10-year-old son.
In a series of emotional appeals shared online, she alleges that Olu Olowogemo abandoned both her and their child years ago, leaving her to shoulder the responsibilities of parenting alone. According to her, the actor has been largely absent from the child’s life since he was about two years old, with little to no financial or emotional support provided over time.
Her claims go beyond abandonment. Fatima also alleges that their relationship was built on deception, stating that she only discovered late into her pregnancy, which was around eight months, that the actor already had 5 children with 2 other women prior to their union. She claimed the actor earlier told her he had only 2 children from a previous marriage.
She further paints a picture of hardship, claiming she has struggled to raise their son under difficult conditions, at one point appealing to the public for help and support.
In the video shared online, Fatima revealed that she was on the verge of losing her accommodation. She said it was a one bedroom apartment she had been allowed to occupy for free. She added that the building had become severely dilapidated and was at risk of collapsing, especially during this rainy season.
In her account, their relationship began while they were both connected to Iree Polytechnic, and she maintains that their marriage was formalized with family involvement, even naming witnesses to back her claims.
As her story gained traction online, it did more than raise questions about the past. It forced a response in the present.
Portable’s Response: The DNA Standoff
As the allegations gained traction online, Olu Olowogemo Harejan did not remain silent. Instead, he responded publicly, pushing back against the claims while introducing a condition that would come to define the dispute.
In his response, the actor questioned the paternity of the child at the center of the controversy, insisting that any responsibility must first be grounded in certainty. He challenged his ex-partner to present the child and submit to a DNA test, making it clear that he would only fully accept responsibility if scientific proof confirmed he is the biological father. He added that he was the one who held the naming ceremony for the boy, Mahbub. He said it would not be difficult for him to take responsibility if the child was indeed his son. In his words:
“Fatima, I was the one who held Mahbub’s naming ceremony when he was born. If you are certain that I am his biological father, and you are confident that a DNA test will confirm it, then bring him to Ogun State tomorrow.
I am not afraid to take responsibility for the child. Bring my son to me in Abeokuta if I am truly his father.”
Hours after his request for a DNA test, on April 6, Mr Portable said he had yet to see Fatimoh. He urged anyone who could reach her to ask her to come to Abeokuta.
On April 7, he shared a voice message which he claimed was his ex-wife. In the recording, a voice believed to be hers was heard saying, “I just had to talk so the whole world will pity me and help me. Should I say it online that my family is taking care of me.”
Conclusion
For now, the dispute between Olu Olowogemo Harejan and his ex-wife remains unresolved, suspended between accusation and proof, and playing out in the full glare of public attention.
On one side are claims of abandonment, hardship, and a father absent for years. On the other is a refusal to accept responsibility without confirmation — a demand for a DNA test that has effectively stalled any path to resolution. Between both positions lies a child, whose reality is far removed from the arguments now shaping public perception.
Until the question of paternity is settled, the story remains open-ended, defined not by closure, but by a standoff that continues to raise more questions than answers.
