I’m PMAN president, suspended Okafor insists, vows to restore sanity

The crisis rocking the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) is far from over as the suspended national president of the association, Pretty Okafor, has declared himself the authentic leader of the body.

This comes as he says the association under him has come to take possession of the landed property of PMAN located at Plot 504, Cadastral Zone, B00, Kukwaba District, F.C.T, Abuja.

Okafor had, in August 2024, been suspended indefinitely for alleged financial misconduct, dereliction of duties, violation of the constitution, and disregard of the elected exco.

His suspension was contained in a statement issued by some members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

The statement also announced the appointment of Sunny Nneji (the first vice president) as the interim president and prohibited Okafor from accessing PMAN’s property in Abuja and the secretariat in Lagos.

Okafor, who was outside the country during his suspension, said he was not given a fair hearing by the NWC, describing them as backstabbers and vowing to challenge it.

A National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) was later set up by the National Executive Committee (NEC) in line with Article 13 (C) (ii) of the PMAN Constitution. The NDC was mandated to investigate the allegations of misconduct and breaches of the Constitution by Mr. Pretty Okafor and the Chapter Governors/Sole Administrators, as referred to by the NWC.

The NWC insisted that Okafor would remain suspended pending the outcome of investigations, faulting a NEC meeting in which his suspension was lifted.

According to the NWC, “A NEC meeting can only be convened by the Acting President, Sunny Nneji, and the General Secretary, as both executives have no knowledge of the purported NEC meeting.”

In an effort to stamp their authority and maintain superiority, the NEC released a statement on August 27, 2024, suspending some members of the NWC, including the interim president, Sunny Nneji; Zaaki Azzay (2nd Vice President); Micheal ‘Ruggedman’ Ugochukwu (National Ex-Officio); and FO Baba Ojonorgua (National Treasurer).

It also relieved Boniface Itodo, the General Secretary, and Faga Bem Paul, the Assistant General Secretary, of their duties.

The National Treasurer later dissociated himself from the NWC faction that suspended Mr. Okafor, claiming that his signature was forged.

But addressing a press conference on Monday, March 3, 2025, in Abuja, Okafor said his leadership has reclaimed the Abuja property under the joint venture of Olusco Construction Ltd.

He thanked the PMAN Governors of Kano, Kaduna, Bayelsa, Abia, Plateau, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, F.C.T, Anambra, Cross River, and other NEC members present and assured them that his administration would work hard to make sure he achieves the mandate given to him, including the development of the Abuja property.

Okafor urged the general public to disregard any information emanating from any other source, saying he is the authentic leader.

A NEC meeting later took place after the press conference. About 14 NEC members and 7 NWC members were in attendance.