The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has dismissed claims that Pretty Okafor is its President.

This was after Pretty Okafor held a press conference in Abuja on March 3 to affirm himself as the association's president despite a suspension handed to him by the National Working Committee.

In a chat with MyNigeria, PMAN Spokesperson, Asha Gangali, stated that Pretty Okafor remains suspended, adding that the President of the association is Sunny Nneji in acting capacity.

According to him, Pretty Okafor was suspended by the amendment of the constitution of PMAN which was amended in 2023 to empower the NWC to suspend an executive member.

"It wasn't so before. During the delegates conference in october 2023, they ratified the amendment of the constitution, then it was gazetted by the trade union to certify that NWC can vote against an executive member, And those executive members exercised that right when they brought charges against him (Pretty Okafor) and they filed it with the Inspector General of Police, that he took some people that are not PMAN members to a reggae festival on the invitation of a Spanish promoter.

"So it was on that basis and some other infractions against him that he was suspended and Sunny Nneji became acting President of PMAN," Asha Gangali said.

He also rubbished the National Executive Council meeting organized by Pretty Okafor which the latter said set aside his suspension.

"Okafor claimed that he held a National Executive Council meeting, which could only be convened through the general secretary, and the general secretary said they didn't convene any NEC meeting. So he claimed that the NEC overturned the suspension and reinstated him and now suspended Sunny Nneji. That was his own narration," he said.

Asha Gangali then revealed how a suit he filed against Pretty Okafor worked to affirm his suspension as PMAN president.

"Now, when this crisis happened between Sunny Nneji's NWC and the suspension matter, because of my case that was still pending in industrial courts in Ibadan, which is still ongoing, PMAN now needed a representation because the NWC had suspended Pretty Okafor.

"However, Pretty Okafor wanted to be the one to appoint lawyer for PMAN in the case. The judge ruled that he could not appoint lawyer for PMAN because he was suspended and he never challenged the suspension. That was the ruling.

"So it's not like he has been removed, but his suspension was affirmed by that court because the court just said you did not challenge your suspension. So the authentic President of PMAN is Sunny Nneji in acting capacity," he said.

ASA