PMAN President Clears Air on Allegations, Reveals Fraud in Monaco Project Negotiation
President of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Pretty Okafor, has denied allegations of financial misconduct and revealed that fraudulent activities were involved in the negotiation of PMAN’s Monaco project with its developer.
Speaking at a press conference during the week, Okafor announced that PMAN would be establishing an Asset Management Company aimed at protecting the association’s properties and investments, following the exposure of irregularities in project dealings.
In 2024, the PMAN National Working Committee (NWC) suspended Okafor over alleged financial impropriety, appointing popular musician Sunny Neji as acting president. However, the National Executive Committee (NEC) swiftly countered the move by suspending Neji, along with musicians Ruggedman, Zaaki Azzay, and JFO Baba Ojonugwa, accusing them of undermining the association’s integrity and processes.
A subsequent police investigation into the financial allegations against Okafor has cleared him of any wrongdoing. According to the report, no evidence of financial misconduct or constitutional breaches was found.
“Let me state this in the strongest terms possible: there was never any financial misconduct. There was never any forgery. There was no breach of the PMAN Constitution on my part. Now, the truth has finally prevailed,” Okafor declared.
He further alleged that the claims against him were part of a coordinated attempt to unlawfully unseat his leadership while he was away on official duty in Spain. “Certain members of the then NWC, in flagrant violation of PMAN’s Constitution, initiated a smear campaign. They issued me a query and purportedly suspended me without due process,” he stated.
Okafor also accused some police officers and court officials of colluding with the disgruntled members to initiate fraudulent legal proceedings. “These dismissed and suspended members, working in collaboration with outside elements, fraudulently procured a consent judgment by suing themselves and pretending to have resolved a non-existent dispute,” he alleged.
He added that the legal documents were never served to PMAN’s official registered address, but instead to an unrecognized location, Lobby D of the National Arts Theatre, which he described as “infamously discredited.”
Regarding the leadership crisis, Okafor said that Sunny Neji, Zaaki Azzay, and Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, known as Ruggedman, voluntarily vacated their positions. He affirmed that their offices would be filled on an acting basis in line with Article 11(m) of the association’s constitution.
Okafor emphasized PMAN’s commitment to transparency, constitutional order, and restoring integrity to the association’s affairs.