Fresh revelations have emerged regarding the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, and four others—veteran musician Sunny Neji, Zakky Azzay, Boniface Itodo, and Raymond Lasisi—over their alleged involvement in a break-in at the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) national secretariat in Lekki, Lagos.

The arrest, initially reported by SaharaReporters, stemmed from a formal petition submitted to both the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police by Pretty Okafor’s legal team. Okafor is the embattled National President of PMAN.

The petition, dated May 12, 2025, and signed by Henrie Eduozor, Esq., accuses the group of burglary, trespass, and stealing $130,000 in cash and two Apple MacBook Pro laptops after allegedly forcefully gaining entry into PMAN’s secretariat at 4B Hameed Kasumu Street, Chevy View Estate, Lekki.

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According to the petition, the musicians—described as either suspended or dismissed members of the association’s National Working Committee (NWC)—took advantage of Okafor’s trip to Spain in August 2024 to announce his removal from office without following any legal or constitutional process. This decision, however, was later reversed by the PMAN National Executive Council (NEC), which reinstated Okafor and demanded a return to the previous leadership structure.

Despite the NEC’s stance, the accused individuals allegedly continued activities aimed at destabilizing the union, including convening what the petition labeled an “illegitimate” National Delegates Conference, where a parallel leadership was reportedly created under the guise of a consent judgment.

The judgment, obtained from the National Industrial Court in Lagos, was said to be based on misleading premises, with an unrecognized PMAN address—Lobby D, National Arts Theatre, Iganmu—being used as its official headquarters. Okafor’s legal camp insists they were not served any court documents related to the case (NICN/LA/360/2024), calling into question the legitimacy of the judgment.

Tensions reportedly peaked in March 2025 when the suspects allegedly forced their way into the secretariat and took $130,000 along with other valuables. Though investigations by the IGP Monitoring Unit were ongoing, the group allegedly returned on May 8, 2025, and reclaimed control of the office space, prompting renewed police action.

One alarming claim in the petition was that the suspects purportedly told authorities that their actions had the backing of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police—a statement the petitioners described as “deeply disturbing.”

Following a meeting led by DCP Akin Fakorede at Force Headquarters in Abuja, the accused were advised to halt all actions pending legal resolution. The petition alleges they ignored this instruction, leading to their arrest.

Supporting evidence submitted includes video footage, photographs of the break-ins, and official records from the Registrar of Trade Unions confirming Pretty Okafor’s legitimacy as PMAN president.

In a statement released by PMAN under Okafor’s leadership, the union reaffirmed the seriousness of the charges. “This is not the first offence. The suspects had illegally broken into PMAN’s National Secretariat at 4B Hameed Kasumu Street, Lekki, Lagos, in March 2025, while investigations into the first breach were still ongoing,” the union stated.

“They were cautioned and granted bail but refused to report back to the IGP Monitoring Unit for further investigation,” it added. “They struck again. On May 8, 2025, they returned — this time with Mr. Fruitful Mekwunye — and forcefully took over the Secretariat a second time, prompting their re-arrest.”

PMAN dismissed claims that the matter was merely internal union politics, stating: “Contrary to their narrative, this is not about union rivalry — it is about criminal actions that undermine the rule of law.”

The statement continued: “They are not being held without legal justification. The Police investigations have been concluded and the case is being prepared for prosecution. All suspects are fully aware of the offences for which they were arrested and are being treated within the bounds of law.”

According to PMAN, the conflict stems from a long history of provocation: “Mr. Pretty Okafor, National President of PMAN, has demonstrated considerable restraint by refraining from resorting to self-help despite the persistent provocative acts of criminality that began on August 20, 2024.”

The union accused the suspended members of circulating defamatory content and unlawfully declaring Okafor guilty of various crimes, despite lacking the constitutional authority to make such pronouncements.

“Falsehood cannot prevail over justice. These individuals are not victims—they are defendants in a pending court action and remain persons of interest in ongoing criminal investigations involving conspiracy, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, fraud, impersonation, and misrepresentation,” the statement added.

PMAN urged the media and public to “disregard all malicious statements and false reports suggesting that the suspects are being detained without due process,” vowing not to allow individuals posing as leaders to continue disrupting the association.

Davido Visits Senate President Godswill Akpabio in Abuja, Joined by Cubana Chiefpriest

Popular Nigerian music star David Adeleke, better known as Davido, recently paid a courtesy call to Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in Abuja.

The visit also featured well-known nightlife entrepreneur and celebrity bartender Pascal Okechukwu, popularly called Cubana Chiefpriest.