Union Leadership Declares Break-In, Fake Judgment and Misrepresentation Part of a Desperate Scheme to Hijack PMAN
The leadership of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), under the presidency of Mr. Pretty Okafor, has strongly condemned what it describes as a fraudulent attempt by dismissed and suspended former members to mislead the public and illegally hijack control of the association.
In a strongly worded official statement issued on Thursday, Mr. Okafor and the legitimate National Executive Council (NEC) of PMAN exposed what they labeled a deliberate act of deception and criminality perpetrated by individuals previously expelled from the union for gross misconduct and financial impropriety.
The statement specifically references a document circulating in the media, titled “Resolution of the Newly Merged National Working Committee (NWC) of PMAN”, dated May 8, 2025, along with images and videos of a purported meeting involving the suspended individuals and one Chief Fruitful Mekwuye.
Illegal Entry and Ongoing Police Investigation
The PMAN leadership described an incident earlier the same day as a case of “breaking and entering”, wherein Chief Fruitful Mekwuye and suspended former members—including Boniface Itodo (popularly known as Aita Bonny), Sunny Neji, Michael Stephens (Ruggedman), and Zakky Azzay—allegedly forced their way into the National Secretariat located at 4B Hameed Kasumu Street, Chevy View Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
According to Mr. Okafor, the same individuals are already under investigation by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit for an earlier unauthorized access and theft, during which $130,000 and two MacBook Pro laptops were declared missing.
“This latest criminal trespass will be reported, and appropriate legal and law enforcement actions will follow,” the statement read.
Consent Judgment Declared Fraudulent
The leadership further discredited a so-called “consent judgment” referenced by the dissident group, which was purportedly obtained in Suit No: NICN/LA/360/2024. PMAN asserts the judgment was secured through fraudulent means, including the deliberate misdirection of court processes to an invalid address at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu—rather than the official PMAN secretariat in Lekki.
Mr. Okafor stressed that under Nigerian law, “a judgment cannot bind any party that was not properly served or represented in court,” rendering the document null and void.
No Legal or Electoral Standing
The statement emphasized that the dismissed individuals had never challenged their expulsion in any competent court of law and that their current actions constitute “a desperate attempt at legitimacy” without any legal foundation.
“They staged a photoshoot and called it a resolution. Baptizing a fraudulent judgment with suspended members won’t confer legitimacy or authority. The fusion of darkness from two ends cannot produce light,” Okafor said pointedly.
Fraudulent Representation and Misuse of Legal Process
The PMAN president also discredited George Dureke, who allegedly acted as a representative of the association in court, saying, “There is not a single shred of evidence indicating he had the consent of even one legitimate PMAN member to act on their behalf.”
He warned that Dureke and others involved in what he termed a “fraudulent scheme” will be held accountable by law enforcement.
In what appears to be a recurring pattern, the group allegedly tried to nullify a previous valid consent judgment issued in PMAN’s favor by filing a new, parallel suit—an action the leadership decried as a gross abuse of judicial process.
Pastor McRoy Osifo Dissociates Himself
In a notable twist, Pastor Amos McRoy Osifo—whom the dissident group claimed to have appointed as electoral chairman—has sworn under oath that he neither consented to nor participated in any fraudulent election process, affirming the legitimate leadership of Mr. Okafor.
PMAN Leadership Holds Ground
Concluding the statement, President Pretty Okafor reiterated that the current PMAN administration remains the only recognized leadership body and called on all members, stakeholders, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the Registrar of Trade Unions to disregard the "misinformation campaign."
“We remain committed to protecting the integrity and lawful governance of PMAN. Criminal conduct cannot and will not be confused with union politics,” he declared.
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