Entertainment
Ruggedman, 3 others arraigned over $130,000 theft
Ruggedman, 3 others arraigned over $130,000 theft
Nigerian rapper and activist, Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, was on Friday arraigned alongside three others at Yaba Magistrate Court 1 over allegations of burglary and theft.
The charges stem from an alleged break-in at the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) national secretariat in Lekki, during which $130,000 was reportedly stolen.
A source close to the police investigation confirmed the development, indicating that the case is being treated with serious attention due to the scale of the theft an
The source said: “The defendants brought to Yaba Court 1 by the police are Ruggedman, Fruitful Mekwunye, Boniface Itodo, and Faga Bem-Paul for arraignment. Sunny Neji and Zakky Azzay remain at large.
“The charges include conspiracy, breaking and entry, and cybercrimes. However, the charges will be amended on the next adjourned date. Ruggedman is currently in custody.”
Ruggedman and other defendants were arrested following a petition filed on May 12, 2025, by PMAN’s legal representatives on behalf of the union’s embattled National President, Pretty Okafor.
The petition accused them of forcefully breaking into PMAN’s secretariat at 4B Hameed Kasumu Street, Chevy View Estate, Lekki, and stealing $130,000 in cash alongside two Apple MacBook Pro laptops.
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The legal complaint further detailed how the accused allegedly exploited Okafor’s official trip to Spain in August 2024 to unlawfully suspend him without due process.
According to a copy of the petition obtained by SaharaReporters, the accused individuals, described as suspended or dismissed members of the PMAN National Working Committee (NWC), allegedly took advantage of Mr. Okafor’s official trip to Spain in August 2024 to declare him suspended from office without due process.
The petition states that their actions were nullified by the PMAN National Executive Council (NEC), which reinstated Okafor and ordered a return to the status quo ante.
It claimed that despite this directive, Ruggedman (Michael Stephens), Sunny Neji, and others allegedly continued to sow discord within the union.
They reportedly convened an “illegitimate” National Delegates Conference where a parallel leadership structure was fraudulently established, backed by a consent judgment procured under what PMAN lawyers described as “deceitful and clandestine” conditions.
The controversial judgment was allegedly secured at the National Industrial Court in Lagos using an address—Lobby D, National Arts Theatre, Iganmu—not recognised as PMAN’s official headquarters. Okafor and his faction maintain they were never served any court processes related to the suit (NICN/LA/360/2024), rendering the consent judgment null and void in their view. Matters escalated in March 2025 when the accused persons allegedly staged a forced entry into the PMAN secretariat.
They were accused of carting away $130,000 and other valuables. Despite ongoing investigations by the IGP Monitoring Unit in Abuja, they allegedly returned on May 8, 2025, and again took control of the premises.
The petition noted that perhaps most alarming is the suspects’ claim that they acted under the authorisation of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, which the petitioners described as “deeply disturbing.”
A high-level meeting convened by DCP Akin Fakorede at Force Headquarters, Abuja, had reportedly warned the group to cease all actions until legal disputes over PMAN leadership were resolved.
Yet, the accused allegedly defied this directive, leading to their arrest. The petition also includes what is described as video and photographic evidence of the alleged break-ins, along with documentation from the Registrar of Trade Unions confirming Pretty Okafor as the legally recognised president of PMAN.
Ruggedman, 3 others arraigned over $130,000 theft
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Veteran Nollywood Actor Ogogo Battles Stage-4 Cancer as Daughters Beg for Treatment
Veteran Nollywood Actor Ogogo Battles Stage-4 Cancer as Daughters Beg for Treatment
The daughters of veteran Yoruba Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, have made an emotional public appeal for urgent medical assistance, revealing that their 66-year-old father is battling stage-four cancer and that hospitals have refused to continue his treatment .
The daughters of veteran Yoruba Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, have made an emotional public appeal for urgent medical assistance, revealing that their 66-year-old father is battling stage-four cancer and that hospitals have refused to continue his treatment. Lima and Kira Taiwo shared tearful videos on Instagram on Monday, August 17, 2026, pleading with Nigerians, well-wishers, and medical professionals with experience in cancer treatment to help save their father’s life. The family stressed that they are not soliciting financial donations but are desperately seeking medical intervention to give the veteran actor another chance at life.
In a video posted on her Instagram page, Lima struggled to hold back tears as she appealed for help, saying her father’s condition had deteriorated significantly and that hospitals had refused to treat him. She said: “Hello everybody, good evening. I’m here to ask for help from my daddy. He has cancer and it’s really, really bad. And the hospitals are refusing to treat him. At least, please, give this man a chance. Nobody wants to do anything.” Lima revealed that the family only became aware of the severity of Ogogo’s condition about three weeks ago, adding that his physical appearance had not initially reflected how serious his illness was. “You see him, you can’t even know that something is wrong that bad. It’s just starting to show. We didn’t even know until like three weeks ago,” she said. She reiterated that the appeal was strictly for medical assistance and not financial donations, urging anyone with connections to healthcare providers willing to take on her father’s case to reach out to the family. “Please, I’m begging you. If you know somebody that knows somebody that will be willing to treat him, anything, we’re willing to try anything. We’re not here to ask for money. Nobody’s here to ask for money,” she said. She also acknowledged the support the family had received from a relative, saying he had stepped in during the crisis. “My big uncle has helped a lot. He has been of great help. Like, nobody even knew that he would show up for us this way,” she said. The visibly distraught daughter ended the video with a tearful plea, saying she could not bear to watch her father die.
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In a separate Instagram video, Kira confirmed that her father’s cancer had reached stage four and disclosed that the hospital treating him had indicated that it could no longer administer chemotherapy. “Hello everyone, I’m here for my daddy. He has cancer and is in stage 4. The hospital is saying that they cannot treat him again, like they can’t give him chemo again,” she said. Kira appealed to anyone who could provide cancer treatment for the actor, including chemotherapy or herbal remedies, to contact the family, and expressed gratitude to Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, for his significant financial support towards their father’s treatment. “And I really, really, really love to appreciate Senator Yayi. He has been the one helping us, he has been the one footing the bills,” she said. Kira became emotional while describing her father’s condition, saying she had never seen him in such pain and revealing that Ogogo had expressed fear of dying. “He’s saying that he doesn’t want to die. Please, I’ve never seen my daddy in that kind of pain before,” she said.
The family revealed that Ogogo’s stomach is swollen and that he has been crying from the pain. According to reports, the family is open to exploring both medical and traditional treatment options. Kira stated: “What I’m here for is that if you can treat my daddy, if you can start chemo for him, whether it’s medical or herbs, please, I’m begging you, guys, I’m begging you, any help, anything, anybody that you know that can treat cancer, please, please, I’m begging you.” She urged anyone who knew a medical professional or facility capable of treating cancer to contact her, her sister, or the actor directly via Instagram.
Dr. Olusina Ajidahun, a prominent medical doctor, has cautioned against the public narrative surrounding the actor’s case, warning that the daughters’ claims that hospitals “refused to treat” their father could unfairly incite anger toward healthcare workers. He explained that when patients have stage-four cancer and chemotherapy and other therapies have been exhausted, the appropriate course is palliative care—managing symptoms and ensuring quality of life rather than curative treatment. He described the daughter’s remark as “a dangerous statement” that could set the tides against the medical team and put a bad label on health care workers. The doctor also advised against seeking herbal cures for advanced cancer, stating: “There are no herbs that will treat a stage 4 cancer. These concoctions will end up damaging more organs and causing more complications. You’d end up wasting money and causing more problems.”
Hassan, 66, is a veteran of the Nigerian film industry with a career spanning more than four decades. He has featured in more than 300 movies and is one of the most recognisable faces in Yoruba cinema. He began his acting career in 1981 after working as a mechanic and later left his job with the water corporation in 1994 to pursue acting full-time. Over the years, he has appeared in numerous films, including Atitebi, Agbelebu, Agbo-Odaju, Danfo Driver, Amerah, Aníkúlápó, Bank Alert, and IGE. His most recent film appearance was in Oye Agba, where he starred alongside Olaniyan Tosin and Jaye Kuti. Hassan had previously made headlines after revealing he battled a “strange sickness” for seven years, diagnosed as chronic ulcer, during which he “couldn’t eat anything except pap” and started “vomiting blood for seven months.”
As of the time of filing this report, the actor’s management and family were yet to issue an official statement detailing the specific hospital, diagnosis, or type of cancer involved. The family has continued to appeal for urgent medical intervention as Ogogo’s battle with stage-four cancer intensifies, urging anyone who can assist with his treatment to reach out via direct message on Instagram.
Veteran Nollywood Actor Ogogo Battles Stage-4 Cancer as Daughters Beg for Treatment
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