PRESS RELEASE
Suspension of Mr. Pretty Okafor
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) hereby announces the indefinite suspension of M.r Pretty Okafor from his position as President of PMAN, effective immediately.
This suspension follows a comprehensive investigation into Mr. Okafor’s actions, which were found to be in gross violation of the PMAN Constitution and financial regulations.
The infractions leading to Mr. Okafor’s suspension include:
Unconstitutional Actions:
Mr. Okafor admitted to unconstitutionally involving non-members of the NWC in an international trip, which was intended exclusively for 32 members of PMAN, including the executive committee.
He facilitated the issuance of counterfeit PMAN DI cards and false cover letters, misrepresenting these individuals as PMAN members and executives, thereby enabling their attendance at the ROTOTOM Reggae Sunsplash in Benicassim, Spain.
Financial Misconduct:
Without the required unanimous approval of the NWC, Mr. Okafor withdrew #7,000,000 (Seven million naira) from the PMAN biometric registration account and transferred funds from PMAN’s bank account into his personal account on several occasions.
Aspecific threshold must be reached before Zenith Bank would print the ID cards for registered members after the lift of the court ban on the PMAN bank account. However, Mr. Okafor’s unauthorized withdrawal of funds from the same account shortly after the lift of the court order has further slowed the process down.
Additionally, he directed a PMAN property developer to deposit $40,000 (Forty thousand dollars) into his personal domiciliary account without proper authorization from the NWC.
Violation of Constitutional Duties:
Mr. Okafor has consistently refused to convene NWC meetings over the past year, despite numerous requests from members. Even after the Registrar of Trade Unions intervened to facilitate these meetings, Mr. Okafor failed to cooperate.
In accordance with Article 12, Paragraph Kof the PMAN Constitution, Mr. Okafor’s suspension wil remain in force pending further disciplinary proceedings as outlined in the constitution.
23d August 2024
His actions have been deemed gross misconduct, a breach of the PMAN Constitution, and a fraudulent misrepresentation of PMAN’s leadership.
In the interim, Mr. Sunny Neji, who has served as the 1st Vice President, wil assume the role of Acting President of PMAN in accordance with the PMAN Constitution. This resolution wil remain effective pending ratification by the National Delegates Conference.
The NWC has also directed Mr. Okafor to immediately surrender all PMAN properties, documents, and any other assets in his possession.
Furthermore, he is required to stay away from PMAN’s property in Abuja and the PMAN Secretariat in Lagos until further notice.
The NWC remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity within PMAN and ensuring strict adherence to the association’s constitution.
The National Working Committee
Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN)
Mr. Sunny Neji
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