Nigerian rapper Ruggedman and four others, including veteran musician Sunny Neji, have been arrested over allegations of burglary, criminal trespass, and theft of $130,000 from the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) national secretariat in Lekki, Lagos.
The musicians were accused of breaking into the PMAN secretariat, stealing $130,000 in cash, and two Apple MacBook Pro laptops. The alleged crime occurred in March 2025, while the PMAN National President, Pretty Okafor, was away on an official trip to Spain.
The arrest followed a petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police and Lagos State Commissioner of Police by PMAN’s legal representatives.
The petition alleged that Ruggedman, Sunny Neji, and others, who were suspended or dismissed members of the PMAN National Working Committee, took advantage of Okafor’s absence to declare him suspended from office without due process.
The police investigation revealed that the accused individuals had allegedly staged a forced entry into the PMAN secretariat, carted away valuables, and defied a directive from the Force Headquarters to cease all actions until legal disputes over PMAN leadership were resolved. The police have concluded their investigation, and the case is being prepared for prosecution.
The PMAN leadership has described the actions of the accused as “criminal” and maintained that they would not tolerate perpetrators parading themselves as union leaders while breaking into PMAN property and spreading lies.
