Rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has debunked claims that he was arrested by the police over allegations of theft and trespass at the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) headquarters.

The music star made this known in a video posted on Saturday, following viral reports that he and four others were arrested on the orders of a deputy commissioner of police at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos.

The report, which circulated earlier in the week, accused Ruggedman, singer Sunny Neji, veteran artiste Zakky Azzay, Boniface Itodo and Raymond Lasisi of stealing over $130,000 from the PMAN office and breaking into the premises without authorisation.

Reacting, Ruggedman dismissed the allegations as false and politically motivated.

He said, “Don’t be deceived by fake news. A disgruntled individual we suspended from PMAN is now alleging funds are missing from the office we visited without providing any evidence.”

He explained that the visit to PMAN’s national secretariat was lawful and part of efforts to reclaim the association from those he described as “oppressors.”

“This is a battle for the soul of our musicians’ union and the rights of Nigerian artistes,” he added.

The controversy drew wider attention when human rights advocate Harrison Gwamnishu took to Instagram, claiming that the accused were being detained and allegedly denied fair treatment. (The Guardian)