Entertainment
Ruggedman, Sunny Neji, 3 Others Arrested Over Alleged $130,000 Theft In PMAN’s Office Invasion
Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, alongside veteran musicians Sunny Neji, Zakky Azzay, Boniface Itodo and Raymond Lasisi, have been arrested over allegations of burglary, criminal trespass, and theft involving over $130,000 from the national secretariat of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) in Lekki, Lagos.
Human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu confirmed this on Thursday in an Instagram post, noting that Ruggedman was being detained over an alleged dispute with PMAN.
The artists’ arrests reportedly followed a petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police and Lagos State Commissioner of Police by legal counsel representing Pretty Okafor, the embattled National President of PMAN.
The petition, dated May 12, 2025, and signed by Henrie Eduozor, Esq., accused the musicians of forcibly breaking into PMAN’s headquarters at 4B Hameed Kasumu Street, Chevy View Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
During the alleged invasion, the group reportedly stole $130,000 in cash and went away with two Apple MacBook Pro laptops.
The incident was said to have occurred while Okafor was on an official trip to Spain in August 2024.
According to the petition, 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 following proper procedures.
Their actions were later nullified by the PMAN National Executive Council (NEC), which reinstated Okafor and directed a return to the previous leadership structure.
Despite the directive, the group allegedly continued to challenge the leadership, organising what has been described as an “illegitimate” National Delegates Conference and establishing a parallel leadership backed by a consent judgment.
PMAN’s legal team claimed that the judgment, obtained at the National Industrial Court in Lagos, was based on misrepresentation and deceit.
They noted that the court was misled into recognising an address, Lobby D, National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, as PMAN’s headquarters contrary to its officially registered location.
Further complicating the case was the claim that Okafor and his legal team were never served with any court documents relating to the suit (NICN/LA/360/2024), leading them to dismiss the consent judgment as null and void.
The accused also allegedly staged another break-in on May 8, 2025, where they forcibly reclaimed control of the PMAN secretariat.
According to the petition, this second invasion occurred even while investigations into the first breach were still ongoing, and despite a warning from DCP Akin Fakorede at Force Headquarters in Abuja, who had instructed all parties to maintain the status quo pending legal resolution.
The petition was supported by video and photographic evidence of the break-ins, along with documentation from the Registrar of Trade Unions affirming Okafor as the legitimate PMAN National President.
In a statement released by PMAN under Okafor’s leadership, the association condemned the repeated invasions, insisting the suspects were not victims of a union power struggle but defendants in a criminal matter.
“This is not the first offence. The suspects had illegally broken into PMAN’s National Secretariat in March 2025,” the statement read.
“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.”
PMAN emphasised that the arrests were legally justified, adding that police investigations have been concluded and the case was being prepared for prosecution.
The association urged the media, stakeholders, and the public to disregard reports alleging unlawful detention and to support ongoing efforts to uphold the rule of law within the entertainment industry.
At the time of filing this report, neither Ruggedman nor the other musicians have issued statements regarding the allegations.
-Leadership
Entertainment
Government Demolishes Influencer Ola Of Lagos’ Car Showroom
The Lagos State Government has reportedly demolished a popular luxury car showroom owned by social media influencer and car dealer, Waris Olayinka Akinwande, widely known as ‘Ola of Lagos’.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, was first brought to public attention through a viral TikTok video posted by another car dealer, Ibilo, who captured the remains of the demolished property.
The caption read, “Lagos State Government Demolishes OOL Autos. Heavy one today.”
As of press time, the state government had not issued an official statement regarding the demolition, leaving the motive behind the action unconfirmed.
However, widespread speculation on social media suggested that the structure was pulled down because it was allegedly built beneath a high-tension power line in violation of safety and urban planning regulations.
One TikTok user, Adekunle Autoparts, commented, “They demolished it because he built it under a power line.”
Another user, Sisi Noni, expressed mixed feelings about the development, highlighting both the safety risks and the harshness of the government’s approach.
“I’m not trying to sound hateful, but the first time I saw this structure, my eyes got hold of the high tension. But as usual, I felt the country doesn’t send anymore once you have money,” she wrote.
“Building under the high tension is very risky. But at the same time, they should have asked him to relocate — maybe they would have dismantled the structure without destroying it so he can make use of some of those materials in his new site.”
The demolition came amid a broader enforcement drive by the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources against illegal constructions across the state.
On the same day, the government also demolished no fewer than 17 houses illegally erected on the Right of Way (RoW) of the Ikota River alignment in the Lekki area.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who led a monitoring and enforcement team to the site, warned residents against activities that endanger the environment or obstruct natural water channels.
“We stopped them then, but we were alerted again recently that the encroachment had resumed aggressively, with attempts to sell to unsuspecting buyers,” Wahab said.
He stressed that the exercise formed part of the state’s broader efforts to reclaim and protect flood-prone areas, adding that offenders behind illegal reclamation and construction activities would be identified and prosecuted.
Recovered evidence from the Lekki site showed several ongoing reclamation projects, sand-filling operations, and partially completed structures built directly on natural waterways, a violation the state said poses serious environmental risks.
-Leadership
Entertainment
Davido Becomes Grammy Voting Member Ahead Of 2026 Awards
Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has been officially inducted as a voting member of the Recording Academy, the body behind the prestigious Grammy Awards.
The move gives the ‘Feel’ crooner, who secured three Grammy nominations in 2024, a direct role in the Academy’s nomination and final-ballot processes for the 2026 ceremony.
Confirming his membership, the Recording Academy shared a video on Instagram on Tuesday featuring Davido alongside other newly admitted members.
The post read, “Creating a song or an album takes heart, time, and dedication. ✨ That’s why Recording Academy members including #Davido, #ravynlenae, #offsetyrn, #jessiereyez, #zacbrownband, #anneakikomeyers, #miles.minnick, #mayaelizabethmusic, #damiensneed, #damarismusica, and #stewart_copeland are sharing why your participation matters.”
Speaking on the milestone, Davido expressed pride at joining the global community of music professionals shaping the awards.
“Understanding the importance of how our voices are heard, I am participating in the GRAMMY Award process. It is a game-changer. I have learned that voting empowers you to have a say in what is considered and voted on in each season. I am honoured to be part of the Recording Academy community, and I look forward to voting,” he said.
Davido’s inclusion underscores the Academy’s ongoing efforts to diversify and expand its membership base, with growing representation from African and other international artists.
The Academy also announced that voting for the 2026 GRAMMY Awards will open on October 3. “Recording Academy voting members: review the ballot, listen, and vote early, starting October 3,” it said.
-Leadership
Entertainment
Tyler Perry Faces $260m Sexual Assault Lawsuit From Actor Derek Dixon
Filmmaker Tyler Perry, known for Acrimony and his popular Madea comedy series, is battling a $260 million sexual assault lawsuit after actor Derek Dixon, who played Dale on Perry’s BET drama The Oval, went public with allegations of harassment and abuse.
In his first on-camera interview with ABC News on September 9, 2025, Dixon claimed Perry fostered a coercive dynamic that blurred professional boundaries and left him fearful for his career.
He alleged that Perry pulled down his underwear and grabbed his buttocks at the producer’s Atlanta home. “I was under constant stress, scared I’d lose my job or be killed off the show if I didn’t comply”.
Explaining the damages sought, Dixon said the lawsuit reflects both personal losses and a deterrent against future abuse.
“Part of that number is my lost job, my lost income, the loss of a show. The other part of that is a deterrent, how do you stop a billionaire who won’t stop themselves from doing this?” he said.
Dixon also accused Perry of failing to deliver on a promise to produce a pilot he had written, which he said Perry still controls.
Despite the risks of speaking out, Dixon said he went public “to protect future generations of actors and creatives,” adding, “Never exploit someone’s aspirations to coerce them into a relationship. That’s unprofessional.”
Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, dismissed the claims, saying, “This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be an elaborate scam. But Tyler will not be coerced, and we are confident that these unfounded harassment claims will not succeed.”
Dixon, who joined Perry’s productions in 2020, filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in January 2024 before leaving The Oval later that year.
His June 2025 lawsuit has since intensified scrutiny of workplace harassment and power dynamics in Hollywood.
-Leadership
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