By Ghazali Ibrahim 
A rather shocking revelation of power struggle is currently bedeviling the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) which has led to the reported arrest of veteran music acts, Ruggedman, Sunny Neji and Zakky Azzay.
Multiple reports claim the popular musicians are joined in custody by Boniface Itodo and a certain Raymond Lasisi.
The award winning musicians BlackBox Nigeria has gathered have been caught in a web of leadership tussle involving embattled President of PMAN, Pretty Okafor who has been revealed to be behind the arrest.
It was gathered that Ruggedman, Sunny Neji and Zakky who were members of Pretty’s national executives sometimes ago passed a vote of no confidence on the latter before going on to install Sunny Neji as interim president.
The embattled president after his official trip to Spain last year maintained challenge the decision and maintained status quo with the support of PMAN national executive council.
Later, he use the instrument of the law to deal with members of the group involved in his removal.
He therefore, accused the group of theft in March 2025, but the latter was cautioned and granted bail which he claimed they didn’t report back to IGP monitoring unit for further investigation.
In order to deal with Ruggedman and co, he accused them of Burglary and theft of valuables at the association secretariat in Lekki, leading to their arrest.
What seems to many as a case of arrest for theft is indeed an indication of dealing with unloyal members by Pretty leadership.
The power tussle highlights deep divisions with PMAN, with Okafor’s leadership silencing opposing members with the instrument of law.
