Nigerian hip-hop artist, Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, known professionally as Ruggedman, has been reportedly detained by police in Lagos over a leadership dispute involving the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN).
EpeInsights learnt that the arrest, which took place earlier this week, was confirmed by human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, who claimed via social media that Ruggedman was being held without due process at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Yaba, Lagos.
“There has been no proper investigation. He and others are being maltreated,” Gwamnishu stated in an Instagram post, calling on the public to demand justice and transparency in the case.
The rapper’s detention follows ongoing tensions within PMAN, a union representing Nigerian musicians. In 2024, Ruggedman was suspended from the organization alongside other prominent artists including JFO Baba Ojonorgua, Sunny Neji, and Zaaki Azzay, amid allegations of misconduct related to internal leadership struggles.
Rights groups and supporters have since rallied around the artist, accusing authorities of failing to follow legal procedures and calling for a fair and independent investigation into the matter.
The Lagos State Police Command has not issued an official statement on the arrest or provide details on the charges, if any, against the artist.
The incident has sparked debate over the role of law enforcement in civil disputes and raised questions about the protection of artists’ rights in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
