Nigerian Musicians Ruggedman And Sunny Neji Detained Over Alleged £130,000 Theft From PMAN Secretariat.
Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, and veteran musician Sunny Neji have been detained at Panti Police Station in Lagos following allegations of stealing $130,000 (£100,000) from the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) national secretariat in Lekki. The arrests, which also involve other individuals, have sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
According to reports, Ruggedman, alongside three others—Fruitful Mekwunye, Boniface Itodo, and Faga Bem-Paul—was arraigned at Yaba Magistrate Court 1 on Friday, facing charges of burglary, conspiracy, and theft. The group is accused of forcibly entering the PMAN secretariat at 4B Hameed Kasumu Street, Chevy View Estate, Lekki, and making off with $130,000 in cash, as well as two Apple MacBook Pro laptops. Another musician, Zakky Azzay, is reportedly still at large.
The allegations stem from a petition filed on 12 May 2025 by PMAN’s legal representatives on behalf of the association’s National President, Pretty Okafor. The petition claims that the accused, described as either suspended or dismissed members of PMAN’s National Working Committee (NWC), exploited Okafor’s absence to declare him suspended without adhering to proper procedures. The group is further accused of convening an unauthorised National Delegates Conference, during which they installed a parallel leadership, backed by a controversial consent judgment secured at the National Industrial Court using an unrecognised PMAN address.
Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu confirmed Ruggedman’s detention on Thursday via an Instagram post, noting that the rapper was being held over an alleged dispute with PMAN. The police investigation has reportedly concluded, with the case now being prepared for prosecution. PMAN has urged the public and media to disregard claims of unlawful detention, asserting that the arrests are legally justified and part of efforts to uphold the rule of law within the entertainment industry.
As of now, neither Ruggedman, Sunny Neji, nor the other detained individuals have issued public statements regarding the allegations. The case has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with fans and industry stakeholders expressing a mix of shock and concern over the developments.
The incident raises questions about internal governance within PMAN and the broader challenges facing Nigeria’s music industry. Authorities have yet to disclose further details about the ongoing investigation or the status of Zakky Azzay, who remains at large. The case is expected to draw significant attention as it progresses through the courts.
