The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) is currently engulfed in a fierce internal battle, with shocking allegations of betrayal and backstabbing leveled against its President, Pretty Okafor. The crisis, which has rattled the association, centers on what has been described as a coordinated attack by former members of the National Working Committee (NWC) aimed at not only removing Mr. Okafor from office but destroying his life and legacy.
In a strongly-worded statement, Hon. Prince Emmanuel Effiom, PMAN’s Cross River State Governor, called out the actions of the former NWC members as a "sinister, calculated plan" designed to bring Pretty Okafor to his knees. The drama began shortly after the President traveled to Spain on August 16, 2024. A few days later, on August 20, the first of several queries surfaced, followed by a swift suspension of Mr. Okafor on August 22.
Allegations of visa fraud, forgery, and financial misconduct were made, painting the President as a criminal. The most damning claims involved an IOU of ₦7 million and a $40,000 payment—funds that Okafor says were for the benefit of PMAN’s planned Afrobeats Festival. The suspended NWC members, however, seized on these transactions, attempting to brand him as a financial miscreant.
What followed was an aggressive media campaign to spread their narrative. News outlets including TVC News, Channels Television, and Premium Times were allegedly used to broadcast these accusations, creating a public perception of guilt without due process. Yet, despite the severity of the claims, no formal police investigation has been initiated, prompting suspicion about the legitimacy of the accusations.
Hon. Effiom decried the actions as not only a coup attempt within PMAN but an outright attack on Pretty Okafor’s personal life. He accused former NWC members, including Boniface Itodo, Sunny Neji, Zakky Azzay, Ruggedman, and Faga Bem Paul, of orchestrating a plan to destroy Mr. Okafor’s career, family, and reputation in a manner akin to a “military coup.”
In a twist, it was revealed that Okafor had recently paid the school fees of Boniface Itodo’s children, amounting to ₦1 million, just weeks before this crisis unfolded—adding an extra layer of betrayal to the saga.
Amidst the chaos, PMAN’s National Executive Council (NEC) has stepped in, appointing a disciplinary committee that lifted Pretty Okafor’s suspension and sanctioned the former NWC members responsible for the unrest.
The unfolding drama has left PMAN at a crossroads, with its leadership shaken by the vicious infighting. For many, this is not just a battle for control but a fight for the soul and future of the association.
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