Lagos, Nigeria – February 4, 2025
Popular Nigerian musicians Sunny Neji, Zakky Azzay, and Ruggedman have been arrested by officers of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex Alagbon, Lagos, on allegations of cyberbullying, cyberharassment, and defamation. The trio, who have been accused of spreading false and defamatory statements against musician and president of the Performing Musicians Employers' Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Pretty Okafor, are now in police custody.
According to reports, Neji, Azzay, and Ruggedman, alongside other dismissed members of the PMAN National Working Committee (NWC), allegedly made unsubstantiated claims against Okafor, accusing him of forgery, visa fraud, and financial misappropriation. These accusations were widely circulated online, including blogs, social media, and WhatsApp groups.
The arrests were made under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, criminalizes sending offensive, false, or menacing information via electronic communication to cause annoyance, inconvenience, or harm. A conviction under this law can result in up to three years of imprisonment, a fine of ₦7,000,000, or both. Cyberstalking, which involves using digital means to intimidate or harass individuals, is also a punishable offense under the Act.
Sources close to the investigation revealed that Boniface Itodo, an alleged key figure in the campaign against Okafor, was aware of the impending arrests but did not warn his associates. Instead, Itodo reportedly traveled to the National Industrial Court in Ibadan, leaving Neji, Azzay, and Ruggedman to face the legal consequences alone.
Meanwhile, attention has also turned to another outspoken critic, Emma Agu, who has been vocal in his criticism of Okafor. Agu, who claims to be in Nigeria, has not made any public statements regarding the arrests. Observers have questioned whether he will present himself to the authorities in connection with the case.
As the legal process unfolds, the music industry and the public await further developments in this case. The authorities have emphasized the importance of responsible online behavior and warned that defamation and cyberharassment will not be tolerated.
More details to follow as the story develops.
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