PMAN FG, IGP Wade Into Land Scandal

A land dispute that has been wracking The Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) for years is yet to be resolved and the Inspector General of Police and the Federal Government have been involved.

In a letter dated April 25 2016 addressed to the Inspector General of Police and copied Mr. President Mohammadu Buhari and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation and signed by Mr. Pretty Okafor and Dr Kenny George, PMAN President and General Secretary respectively, which had its heading “MONUMENTAL FRAUD, STEALING, FORGERY AND CRIMINAL CONVERSION OF PMAN LANDED PROPERRTY IN ABUJA AGAINST MR TEE MAC AND HIS COHORTS” the Association states that: 1. The Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria otherwise known as PMAN as registered under the Trade Union’s Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was allocated a parcel of land measuring more than 8 hectares for the purpose of developing a modern day music and entertainment complex in Abuja by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1992 and thereafter, reallocated between 1999 and 2003. While arrangements were being made to develop the place in accordance with the original plan, Mr. Tee Mac Omatshola Itseliin 2010, clandestinely went to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and registered ‘Performing Musician Association of Nigeria’ - using the same acronym (PMAN), with which he deceived the FCT authorities that granted him a certificate of occupancy of the said land. 2. The Trade Unions Act, section 20 and as amended makes it a criminal offence for anybody or group of persons to register an Association or Union similar to an existing one. 3. Mr. Tee Mac Omatshola Itseli was neither an officer nor an official of PMAN as at 2010 when he did all these things. 4. Since dubiously acquiring the said land, Mr. Tee Mac Omatshola Itseli has never allowed peace to reign in PMAN as he keeps sponsoring one form of crisis or the other, amongst other things. Meanwhile the Inspector General of Police Mr. Solomon Arasehas set up a high powered investigation into the matter, by inviting all those involved in the issue to come and say what they know. With this development, it is hoped that the union and the industry will soon heave a sigh of relief as the cause of the perennial crisis of the union will soon be over. To underscore the significance of this development, PMAN shall very soon use its strengths and energy to carry out such tasks that will spell good for our country through restructuring and repositioning the practice standard of the industry to conform with the international ones as obtained in Europe, America and Asia which positively impacts on the economies of such countries. Nigeria is noted for its huge potentials in this regards. But the crisis in PMAN over the years has denied the country the opportunity to benefit from its huge resources in the creative economy which is now structured to generate revenue of over 9trillion naira according to recent statistic published by CNN. Our belief in this is informed by the fact that we now have a President, His Excellency, Mohammadu Buhari who does not tolerate corruption.