By Parrot Newspaper 
Ruggedman Refutes Arrest Rumours
Veteran Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has debunked widespread reports claiming he was arrested over financial misconduct alongside fellow musicians Zaki Azzay, Sunny Neji, Boniface Itodo, and Fega Michaels.
In a video posted to his social media, Ruggedman dismissed the allegations as false, describing them as part of a smear campaign allegedly orchestrated by Pretty Okafor, the suspended former president of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (P-Man).
“There was a petition written against myself, Sunny Neji, Zaki Azzay, Boniface Itodo, and a couple of others. It’s not about us stealing money. It’s about money allegedly missing in the P-Man office—which has not been proven,” he clarified.
Ruggedman explained that the petition surfaced shortly after P-Man’s National Working Committee (NWC), of which he is a member, suspended Okafor for what he called “illegal actions” against the union.
“So you see how this is going? The same people who suspended him are the same people he wrote a petition against,” he said, implying the accusations were retaliatory.
He further stated that no one in the group was found with any money and emphasized that some of the individuals named, including Sunny Neji, Zaki Azzay, and Yinka Davies, were not even in Lagos at the time the alleged incident was reported.
Calling out media outlets that published the story, Ruggedman warned: “I advise you take down those publications before I say I’m going to sue you for defamation. You’re sharing false information.”
He also questioned the inclusion of Chief Fruitful Mekwunye—the newly recognized president of P-Man as of May 2025—in the revised petition, pointing out that the alleged misconduct occurred in March, before Mekwunye assumed office.
“How can someone who wasn’t even there at the time be named in the petition?” he asked.
Concluding the video, Ruggedman reaffirmed his innocence and reiterated his commitment to protecting the integrity of Nigerian musicians.
Ruggedman Refutes Arrest Rumours
“Do not let one bad man use you as a tool to tarnish the image of innocent people. Ruggedman say so.”