Veteran Rapper Ruggedman Reportedly Detained Amid PMAN Power Struggle
Veteran Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has reportedly been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos, following a dispute linked to the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN). The arrest was allegedly carried out on the orders of a Deputy Commissioner of Police after a petition was submitted by legal representatives of Pretty Okafor, the controversial National President of PMAN.
The petition, addressed to the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, accuses Ruggedman and several others of burglary, criminal trespass, and theft involving more than $130,000 from PMAN’s national secretariat in Lagos. Also reportedly detained alongside Ruggedman are prominent musicians Sunny Neji, Zakky Azzay, Boniface Itodo, and Raymond Lasisi.
Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, in a post shared via his Instagram account, alleged that Ruggedman and the others are being maltreated by police despite the absence of a proper investigation. His claims have sparked widespread concern within the entertainment and human rights communities.
The arrests add a new layer to the ongoing leadership crisis within PMAN. In 2024, PMAN’s National Working Committee suspended its president, Pretty Okafor, over alleged constitutional violations, financial misconduct, and other offences. In response, Sunny Neji was sworn in as acting president. However, this move was soon challenged by the National Executive Council of PMAN, which suspended Sunny Neji, Ruggedman, Zakky Azzay, and JFO Baba Ojonorgua for alleged misconduct and efforts to destabilize the association.
The situation remains tense, with many calling for an impartial investigation and a resolution to the prolonged conflict that has weakened the union’s ability to represent Nigerian musicians effectively. As legal proceedings continue, the fate of Ruggedman and the others remains unclear.
