PMAN Set Records Straight On The Arrest Of Musician, Ruggedman, Others Over Case Of Alleged Criminal Break & Entry (VIDEO).

Ruggedman.

The attention of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) under the legitimate leadership of Mr. Pretty Okafor has been drawn to mischievous rumours being circulated in certain quarters claiming that Mr. Fruitful Mekwunye, Mr. Boniface Itodo, Mr. Faga Bem-Paul and Mr. Michael Stephen are being held unlawfully by the Nigerian Police.

This statement is issued to set the records straight and protect the public from being misled by falsehoods and propaganda.

These individuals were arrested based on repeated acts of criminality. They were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos, following conclusive investigations by the IGP Monitoring Unit. Their offences include criminal trespass, breaking and entry, and theft.

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. They were cautioned and granted bail but refused to report back to the IGP Monitoring Unit for further investigation.

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. Contrary to their narrative, this is not about union rivalry — it is about criminal actions that undermine the rule of law.

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.

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, when dismissed and suspended members of the National Working Committee—without any lawful justification—purportedly found Mr. Okafor guilty of several criminal allegations. It is pertinent to state that these individuals had no constitutional authority to pronounce such judgment. Nonetheless, defamatory statements and accusations were circulated extensively across social media and vigorously sustained for several months, causing significant embarrassment to PMAN and Mr. Okafor both locally and internationally.

Investigations into various cybercrimes and related offences had already been concluded prior to the escalation of hostilities by the dismissed and suspended NWC members, who further demonstrated audacity by repeatedly breaking into the PMAN National Secretariat.

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.

PMAN will not tolerate perpetrators parading themselves as union leaders while breaking into PMAN property, and spreading lies.

The PMAN leadership calls on the media, stakeholders, and the public to disregard all malicious statements and false reports suggesting that the suspects are being detained without due process.

We urge the law to take its course.

PMAN remains committed to protecting its property, constitution, and members from exploitation, criminality, and lawlessness disguised as unionism.