Performing Musician Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) president, Pretty Okafor has lambasted veteran musician, Tee Mac.
He said; “My attention has been drawn to various publications posted mostly on social media, particularly WhatsApp group platforms at which Tee Mac Iseli announced that it has sued Pretty Okafor, the President of PMAN for libel and seeking for damages in the sum of N100 Million.”
“I have received several calls from within and outside Nigeria regarding this. While I hold that it is Tee Mac’s right to approach the courts to seek redress for any wrong done to him by anyone including me, it is imperative that the public is not in any way misinformed about the motive and means of seeking such redress.”
“I confirm that Tee Mac was the President of PMAN for a period which ended over ten (10)years ago. More than three presidents had taken over the leadership of PMAN after him. Tee Mac, in spite of having run his term as PMAN President, has refused to let go of the leadership and affairs of PMAN.”
“Since when I became the President of PMAN, Tee Mac has been leading and raising opposition against me and prompting his own stooges to parade as the presidents of PMAN until the court recently put the struggle for the soul of PMAN to rest in Suit No.NICN/IB/31/2020: Comrade Obi Okwudili (Uncle P) & Ors vs. Sunny Neji & Ors.”
“Immediately the judgment was handed down, Tee Mac was one of those inciting his camp to reject the judgment claiming that Pretty Okafor remains a criminal waiting to be jailed by the Industrial Court in Lagos.”
“There are so many other fora where Tee Mac has denigrated my name and image as a usurper, liar, thief, and criminal, which I chose to overlook for peace to reign. Now that it has become impossible for Tee Mac to continue to use PMAN to fight his personal battle against me, he has chosen to personally confront me in the Court.”
“This is most welcome as I await the service of his processes not through social media.”
“Though, I am in the dark of what Tee Mac is claiming that I libelled him but the only issue that have brought us at cross purposes is the land allocated to the Performing Musicians’Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory by the regime of former President Ibrahim Babangida and reallocated by the regime of General Sanni Abacha.”
“This land has passed through the hands of many residents of PMAN, intact at 8.7Hectares and under the name of the Performing Musicians’ Employers’ Association of Nigeria, but the title suddenly changed at a point to PERFORMING MUSICIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, with measurement of 3.53 Hectares. These changes in the title and measurement of the land has been the reason, known to me, that may have caused Tee Mac to think his name is being maligned by me. I respect Tee Mac as an elder and former PMAN President and would not go out of my way to libel him in any way.”
“If however, it is the PMAN land matter that is the cause of the matter, all I have been doing as the President of PMAN for the common good of Nigerian musicians who are members of PMAN, is to ascertain the facts surrounding the land and firmly restore the land to PMAN.”
“I, and the current National Working Committee of PMAN would not relent in unearthing the truth and restoring our common patrimony as Nigerian musicians.”