Ruggedman Debunks Arrest Rumors, Calls Out Former P-Man President Over Smear Campaign [VIDEO]

 

Ruggedman Breaks Silence, Denies Arrest Allegations Tied to P-Man Financial Scandal

Veteran Nigerian rapper and social activist Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, widely known as Ruggedman, has categorically denied allegations that he was arrested over financial misconduct involving the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (P-Man). His rebuttal, delivered through a video posted on his official social media platforms, follows a wave of reports claiming he and several other notable musicians had been apprehended in connection with missing funds.

Far from remaining silent amid growing speculation, Ruggedman provided a detailed explanation of what he described as a targeted campaign to defame his character and those of fellow artists Sunny Neji, Zaki Azzay, Boniface Itodo, and Fega Michaels. According to him, the smear attempt is rooted in a recent internal crisis within P-Man, culminating in the suspension of its former president, Pretty Okafor.

“There was a petition written against myself, Sunny Neji, Zaki Azzay, Boniface Itodo, and a couple of others,” Ruggedman explained in his video. “It’s not about us stealing money. It’s about money allegedly missing in the P-Man office—which has not been proven.”

The timing of the petition, Ruggedman argues, is more than suspicious. Just after the National Working Committee (NWC) of P-Man—of which he is a member—voted to suspend Pretty Okafor for alleged misconduct, Okafor reportedly turned around and filed a petition against those very same individuals. For Ruggedman, this was a calculated act of retaliation.

“Do you see how this is going?” he asked viewers. “The same people who suspended him are the same people he wrote a petition against.”

Adding weight to his argument, Ruggedman emphasized that neither he nor the other accused individuals were found in possession of any illicit funds. He further revealed that some of those listed in the initial reports, including Sunny Neji, Zaki Azzay, and Yinka Davies, weren’t even present in Lagos when the issue was first brought to light.

Highlighting the inconsistencies in the allegations, he drew attention to the inclusion of Chief Fruitful Mekwunye, the newly installed president of P-Man, in a revised version of the petition. Mekwunye only assumed office in May 2025—months after the alleged misconduct supposedly took place in March.

“How can someone who wasn’t even there at the time be named in the petition?” Ruggedman questioned, reinforcing the implausibility of the accusations.

Directly addressing media outlets that ran the false story, Ruggedman did not mince words. He cautioned journalists and bloggers to retract misleading articles or risk facing legal consequences for defamation. “I advise you take down those publications before I say I’m going to sue you for defamation. You’re sharing false information,” he warned sternly.

Despite the stress and misinformation, the rapper reaffirmed his dedication to serving and defending Nigerian musicians, making it clear he would not be silenced or bullied by political maneuverings within the union. “Do not let one bad man use you as a tool to tarnish the image of innocent people,” he concluded. “Ruggedman say so.”

The unfolding controversy not only raises questions about the internal operations of P-Man but also underscores the need for transparency and unity within Nigerian entertainment bodies. With prominent voices like Ruggedman taking a stand against false narratives and alleged abuse of power, it remains to be seen how the association will move forward in the face of such turbulence.

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