Veteran rapper Ruggedman is reportedly being held by the Nigerian Police Force at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, on the orders of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, following ongoing disputes within the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN).
Other individuals said to have been arrested include Sunny Neji, Zakky Azzay, Boniface Itodo, and Raymond Lasisi. They face allegations of burglary, criminal trespass, and the theft of property valued at over $130,000 from PMAN’s national secretariat in Lagos.
According to human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, who shared the update on Instagram, Ruggedman and others are reportedly being mistreated by the police despite the absence of a proper investigation.
The arrests were allegedly prompted by a petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police by legal representatives of Pretty Okafor, the embattled National President of PMAN.
This incident marks the latest development in a protracted crisis within PMAN, an organisation tasked with safeguarding the interests of Nigerian musicians, but which has been plagued by leadership disputes.
In 2024, PMAN’s National Working Committee (NWC) suspended its President, Pretty Okafor, over alleged breaches of the organisation’s constitution, financial mismanagement, and other infractions.
Sunny Neji was subsequently sworn in as acting President.
However, this was swiftly countered by a statement from the PMAN National Executive Council (NEC), which announced the suspension of several prominent members for alleged misconduct and attempts to destabilise the association. Among those suspended were Sunny Neji, Ruggedman, Zakky Azzay, and JFO Baba Ojonorgua.
