Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, widely known as Ruggedman, was arraigned before a magistrate court in Yaba, Lagos, on Friday over allegations linked to a theft at the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) office.
The case, which involves three other suspects, centres on a reported break-in at the PMAN national secretariat in Lekki, where $130,000 and two laptops were allegedly taken.
The legal action follows a petition filed on May 12, 2025, by PMAN’s legal team, representing the group’s president, Pretty Okafor.
According to police reports, the suspects include Ruggedman, Fruitful Mekwunye, Boniface Itodo, and Faga Bem-Paul.
Two others, musicians Sunny Neji and Zakky Azzay, were declared to be on the run at the time the case was brought to court.
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The group is accused of taking advantage of Okafor’s trip to Spain in August 2024 to stage a takeover of the union.
They were said to have forcefully entered the secretariat at 4B Hameed Kasumu Street in Lekki and taken the money and items without approval.
Authorities also claimed the accused held a separate national conference where they installed another leadership, using a court ruling that was allegedly based on a non-existent address.
Okafor’s camp insisted that they were not informed of the case filed at the National Industrial Court and rejected the ruling as invalid.
In response, PMAN’s National Executive Council reportedly dismissed the actions of the suspended officials and reinstated Okafor as the legitimate head of the group.
Despite police instructions for both sides to step back and maintain peace, Ruggedman and others allegedly returned to the secretariat on May 8, 2025, and resumed activities there.
They were also accused of falsely claiming that they had approval from the Lagos State Police Command.
The police said the case may be updated with more charges at the next court session, which include conspiracy, illegal entry, and cybercrime.
As of now, Ruggedman and the others remain in custody.
