NewStats: 3,263,689 , 8,181,027 topics. Date: Saturday, 07 June 2025 at 10:19 AM 3s322j

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 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.

https://govima.com/news/nigerian-musicians-ruggedman-and-sunny-neji-detained-over-alleged-130000-theft-from-pman-secretariat/

Ok

Well, truely, This is Nigeria. Where everybody is a criminal... ..(Falz) 2020

.

That musician wasn't wrong when he said Ole ni everybody.

LordBiden:
Hahahaha!

Op you mean our "Nigeria jagajaga" crooner was arrested for stealing?

Put allegedly

LordBiden:
.

Not Eedris.

Why is PMAN, holding £130,000 cash?
How come they are holding a foreign currency physical cash of £130,000? They could be charged for money laundering....

RealityKings1:
Why is PMAN, holding £130,000?
How come they are holding a foreign currency physical cash of £130,000? They could be charged for money laundering....

They should also disclose the source of the Money and how much tax was paid.
This is pure Leadership struggle and the allegations maybe a frame up

PMAN wahala nor dey finish since I know them.

I thought rugged man was in London

The want to use the money to boost their songs on froeign Spotify since Nigeriians don tire to hear their songs.

Amaka and Ronu

And some people want us to believe only tinubu is Nigeria's president right?

The reality is that we all are dishonest

dem nor talk say dem spend the money to CUT GRASS/ 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 chop am

Because they are celebrities doesn’t mean they are not humans . BTW,this might be fake news but if it’s true then it’s a hot one for sunny Neji. He was chased out of his community cos of theft(so I heard). I just hope it’s not real

No comment; next question

Don't rush to believe yet.
Wait till investigations are done

Trumped up charges, $130K for this economy in association coffers. GLO , STAR & PEPSI no longer sponsor artist shows due to cash constraints

Morbeta11:

https://govima.com/news/nigerian-musicians-ruggedman-and-sunny-neji-detained-over-alleged-130000-theft-from-pman-secretariat/

Old takers dey find new means to become new takers

Careente7:
Because they are celebrities doesn’t mean they are not humans . BTW,this might be fake news but if it’s true then it’s a hot one for sunny Neji. He was chased out of his community cos of theft(so I heard). I just hope it’s not real

No comment; next question

Which community?

Commentor:


Which community?

In cross river.

Careente7:

In cross river.

Be nice to know what it's called.

Story seems untrue.

Commentor:


Be nice to know what it's called.

Story seems untrue.

He’s from Ogoja crossriver

LordBiden:
.

you don't even know who sang the Jaga jaga song

Davido, Wizkid, Burner Boy, na iba cause this one. New generation musicians and flinging money making the old guys h.o.r.n.y for the money.

130,000 dollars cash is just sitting in PMAN office..... Welldone...!!

Lifestone:

They should also disclose the source of the Money and how much tax was paid.
This is pure Leadership struggle and the allegations maybe a frame up

they should also talk why the money wasnt in the bank

[quote author=MaziObinnaokija post=135491357] dem nor talk say dem spend the money to CUT GRASS/
🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜

RealityKings1:
Why is PMAN, holding £130,000 cash?
How come they are holding a foreign currency physical cash of £130,000? They could be charged for money laundering....

very aptly put

This is not good for ruggeding baba and sunny neji, it has been a long time we hear from them and only way we hear from them now is bad news