By Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
Veteran Nigerian rapper Ruggedman has refuted claims of his arrest by the Nigerian Police Force at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti.
Reports alleged that a Deputy Commissioner of Police ordered his detention amid a dispute within the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN).
Other individuals reportedly arrested included Sunny Neji, Zakky Azzay, Boniface Itodo, and Raymond Lasisi, accused of burglary, criminal trespass, and theft of over $130,000 from PMAN’s national secretariat in Lagos.
Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu raised concerns on Instagram, claiming Ruggedman and others were maltreated without proper investigation.
In a video posted on Saturday, May 24, Ruggedman denied the allegations and urged the public to disregard misinformation.
“Don’t be deceived by fake news,” he stated. “A disgruntled individual we suspended from PMAN is now alleging funds are missing from the office we visited—without providing any evidence. We are fighting to save PMAN from his grip. This is a battle for the soul of our musicians’ union and the rights of Nigerian artists.”
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