Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens — better known as Ruggedman — has finally responded to rumors claiming he was arrested by the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti.
The buzz started when human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu alleged Ruggedman was caught up in a dispute with the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN). But according to a report, those claims aren’t holding up.
In a recent YouTube video, Ruggedman dismissed the arrest story as “stupid” and completely false. He says it’s all a smear campaign aimed at dragging his name through the mud.
So, what really happened?
Ruggedman revealed the drama started with a petition — not about theft, but about money that’s reportedly missing from an office. The petition was filed by Pretty Okafor, a veteran musician and former PMAN president who was suspended by the association’s National Working Committee (NWC), of which Ruggedman is a member.
“It is not about us stealing money but about money that is missing in an office,” Ruggedman explained.
He believes Okafor wrote the petition as a way to fight back after his suspension, turning the spotlight on Ruggedman and others.
Known for standing up for the voiceless, Ruggedman says this fight is about protecting the weak, not personal gain. He also warned media outlets to avoid being tools for smearing people’s reputations.
So, for now, the “arrest” story is just another rumor in the music scene — but the controversy inside PMAN is far from over.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
