The attention of the legitimate leadership of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), under the presidency of Mr. Pretty Okafor, has been drawn to the misleading and fraudulent document purportedly titled “Resolution of the Newly Merged National Working Committee (NWC) of PMAN” dated 8th May, 2025, along with photos and videos of the dismissed and suspended members of NWC and the Chief Fruitful Mekwuye and his team. We wish to unequivocally clarify and state the true position to all PMAN members, stakeholders, regulatory authorities—including the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Registrar of Trade Unions—and the general public:
Breaking and Entering Incident: Today’s unauthorised entry by Chief Fruitful Mekwuye, his team and the suspended and dismissed members—Boniface Itodo (Aita Bonny), Sunny Neji, Michael Stephens (Ruggedman), and Zakky Azzay—is yet another incident of breaking and entering into PMAN’s National Secretariat at 4B Hameed Kasumu Street, Chevy View Estate, Lekki, Lagos. Boniface Itodo (Aita Bonny), Sunny Neji, Michael Stephens (Ruggedman), and Zakky Azzay already face investigation by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit for an earlier incident where $130,000 and two MacBook Pro laptops remain unaccounted for. This latest criminal trespass will be reported, and appropriate legal and law enforcement actions will follow.
Invalidity of the Consent Judgment: The purported consent judgment fraudulently obtained in Suit No.NICN/LA/360/2024 does not legally bind the legitimate PMAN. All court processes were deliberately served at an address foreign to the officially gazetted and recognised PMAN address (4B Hameed Kasumu Street, Chevy View Estate, Lekki, Lagos), being fraudulently addressed to “Lobby D, National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.” Under extant laws, a court judgment cannot bind a party that was neither served, properly served, nor made a legitimate party to the suit.
Criminal Investigations Ongoing: The suspended members of the NWC currently face ongoing investigations by the Nigeria Police Force’s IGP Monitoring Unit in Abuja. Today’s provocative actions further compound their legal issues and firmly seal their fate. The National Executive Council (NEC) must now act decisively to permanently address these violations.
Fraudulent and Misleading Claims: The statement issued today, purportedly merging factions under the fraudulent consent judgment and the dismissed and suspended individuals, is nothing more than a desperate attempt at legitimacy—a mere photoshoot staged to mislead and deceive the public. Let it be known clearly that having the suspended members of the NWC baptise their fraudulent consent judgment can never confer them with legitimacy or authority. The fusion of darkness from two ends would never translate to light.
Legal and Constitutional Nullity: The dismissed and suspended members have been validly removed by the National Executive Council. It is noteworthy that none of them have ever challenged their suspension or dismissal in any competent court of law.
Misguided Attempt to Seize Control: We categorically assert that PMAN’s leadership cannot be hijacked through deceit, fraud, breaking and entering, or intimidation. If these individuals assume their reckless gutter mentality and shallow strategies can impose themselves onto PMAN’s leadership, they are gravely mistaken.
No Legal Basis or Enforcement: The consent judgment was fraudulently obtained without proper service, representation, or notification to the legitimate PMAN. For avoidance of doubt, the legitimate PMAN has taken necessary legal actions out of convenience, and not because of any belief in the legitimacy of that fraudulent judgment. If the authors of this mischief truly believed their fraudulent consent judgment had any merit or enforcement capability, why have they failed to initiate Form 48 or Form 49 contempt proceedings?
Fraudulent Representation: The claim by George Dureke, who purportedly represented all members of PMAN, is entirely fictitious. There is not a single shred of evidence indicating consent from even one legitimate PMAN member, much less all members, for him to sue on their behalf. For his role in this fraudulent scheme, he has a date with law enforcement in the not too distant future.
Abuse of Judicial Process: It is important to underscore the fact that these same actors previously attempted unsuccessfully to set aside the legitimate consent judgment delivered by Honourable Justice Ogunbowale in Suit No: NICN/IB/90/2019. Despite failing at the National Industrial Court and currently having an appeal pending, they maliciously instituted a parallel suit, amounting to gross abuse of the court process. Even so, they did a very terrible job at whatever sham they attempted.
Witness and Judicial Acknowledgement: Pastor Amos McRoy Osifo, whom they deceptively appointed as their electoral chairman, has categorically dissociated himself from their fraudulent activities, confirming under oath the fraudulent nature of their claims and that no genuine electoral conflict ever existed.
The legitimate PMAN leadership remains firmly in charge. We urge all members, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies to dismiss this recent desperate misinformation campaign. Criminal conduct cannot and will not be confused or condoned as union politics. The culprits will face the full force of the law.
We remain committed to protecting the integrity and lawful governance of PMAN. All appropriate legal and disciplinary actions will be taken decisively.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
