Rapper Ruggedman has denied claims that he was arrested by the Nigerian Police Force at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos.
Reports circulated earlier in the week alleging that a deputy commissioner of police ordered the arrest of Ruggedman and others over a leadership dispute in the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN).
Also named in the report were singer Sunny Neji, veteran artist Zakky Azzay, Boniface Itodo and Raymond Lasisi.
The group was accused of burglary, criminal trespass and theft of over $130,000 from PMAN’s national secretariat in Lagos.
Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu raised the alarm on Instagram, claiming the accused were being maltreated without a thorough investigation.
Reacting in a video posted on Saturday, Ruggedman urged the public to ignore what he described as “misinformation.”
“Don’t be deceived by fake news,” he said.
“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.”
