Afrobeats sensation Divine Ikubor, professionally known as Rema, finds himself embroiled in a heated public feud with interior designer Amaka Obasi, owner of Ardeb Lifestyle Company, over an allegedly botched ₦386 million home renovation contract. What began as a professional disagreement has escalated into accusations of fraud, police harassment, and multiple arrests, drawing sharp criticism on social media and exposing vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s celebrity-contractor dynamics.
How The Rema Vs Obasi Issue Started
The saga ignited on September 16, 2025, when software developer Derrick Ejekwu (@software_artist on X) posted a viral thread accusing Rema of weaponizing the Nigeria Police Force to intimidate Obasi. Ejekwu claimed Obasi, who had previously renovated a property for Rema’s mother in Benin, was contracted in April 2025 to overhaul Rema’s Lagos residence but faced repeated denials of payment despite completing the work— including unrequested additions like a music studio and water tank.
He alleged Rema lured her to a “reconciliation meeting” at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Alagbon, Lagos, on August 30, 2025, only for her to be arrested, forced to pay ₦1.1 million in bail via a POS operator linked to police officers, and remanded until October despite suffering from asthma and a hernia.
Obasi Cries Out Against Rema
This marked the third such arrest, per the thread, with Obasi’s family pleading online for intervention: “URGENT!! We need your help!! Rema is using the Nigeria Police Force to harass and detain Amaka Obasi all because she asked for payment.”
Screenshots of petitions, bank transfers, and remand orders flooded X, amplifying calls for justice and painting Rema as a powerful figure abusing his influence against a small business owner. Obasi’s sister, Philomena, reportedly initiated the now-deleted tweets that sparked the outrage, framing it as a blatant civil matter twisted into criminal persecution.
Rema Fires back
Rema’s legal team fired back on September 19, 2025, with a strongly worded statement from O&O Legal Practitioners, signed by Richard Adama, Esq., vehemently denying harassment and flipping the narrative to outright fraud.
They detailed a September 2024 engagement (with a formal April 2025 agreement) for the Lagos project, set for completion by December 2024, claiming Obasi conspired with Rema’s former personal assistant to inflate material and labor costs, deliver substandard work using unapproved materials, and breach deadlines despite extensions.
“Despite receiving the majority of the contract payments [₦287 million], Ms. Amaka Obasi wholly failed to provide services or deliver work commensurate with the substantial payments made to her,” the statement read, accusing her of “obtaining money by false pretence” and breaching bail conditions after an initial arrest, leading to her rearrest.
A similar pattern allegedly occurred in the Benin project, underscoring “a consistent track record of substandard service and deceptive practices.” The lawyers urged the public to dismiss Obasi’s “fabrications” as deflection tactics aimed at tarnishing Rema’s “hard-earned reputation.”
How The Nigerian Police Dabbled Into The Issue
The FCID Alagbon quickly weighed in on September 17, 2025, via spokesperson ASP Maiyegun Aminat, framing the matter as a legitimate contract fraud investigation rather than celebrity bullying.
They confirmed Rema’s petition detailed Obasi’s receipt of ₦287 million but failure to complete the project, including undelivered furniture, and her suspicious transfer of funds to another account.
Police advised both parties to hire an independent valuer to assess progress and payments—advice Obasi allegedly ignored, opting out of legal representation until her arrest. Obasi has countersued in the Federal High Court (Suit No. FHC/L/CV/1775/25), seeking ₦50 million in damages for rights violations, arguing the dispute is purely civil and police involvement unlawful.
Fallouts For Both Rema And Parties
The dispute has inflicted tangible blows on reputations and operations for Rema and Obasi alike, turning a private contract into a cautionary tale of mistrust in Nigeria’s creative and construction sectors.
- For Rema: The initial X backlash has dented his “calm, innovative” Afrobeats persona, with fans and netizens branding him a “bully” who leverages fame and police ties against women in business. Posts like those from @SeanOkeke (652 likes) and @heisremanewss (1,515 likes) summarize the scam angle in his favor, but broader discourse questions celebrity accountability, potentially affecting endorsement deals and fan loyalty amid his “Fun” single rollout. Rema has remained silent personally, channeling energy into music, but the saga risks overshadowing his global rise.
- For Amaka Obasi: Beyond the emotional toll—detention amid health crises and family pleas—the arrests have stalled her business, with Ardeb Lifestyle’s online presence (last post August 30: “sigh… need a lawyer urgently”) signaling distress. If fraud allegations stick, her credibility as a designer could crumble, deterring future clients in Lagos’ competitive interior scene. She’s already out ₦1.1 million in bail, plus legal fees, and faces ongoing scrutiny in custody until at least October.
The Crux of the issue by Rema’s defence:
The statement from Rema’s legal representatives addresses and refutes false, defamatory information circulating online about the artist (Divine Ikubor, aka Rema). It accuses interior designer Ms. Amaka Obasi (of Arden Lifestyle Company) of fraudulently deceiving Rema in two renovation projects:
- Lagos Project (September 2024): Hired to renovate his residence with a December 2024 deadline. She allegedly conspired with Rema’s former personal assistant to inflate costs, deliver substandard work (using unapproved materials, poor workmanship, and incomplete installations), miss deadlines despite extensions, and make unjustified demands for more funds. This led to financial loss and breached the agreement.
- Benin Project (Prior Engagement): Similar issues of substandard materials, defective execution, and financial exploitation, indicating a pattern of deceptive practices.
Additionally, Ms. Obasi is accused of breaching fiduciary duties by unlawfully disclosing confidential information in collaboration with the former assistant.
As a result, Rema filed a police petition, leading to arrests for fraud, obtaining money by false pretence, criminal conspiracy, and related offenses. Ms. Obasi was bailed but breached conditions, resulting in her re-arrest and ongoing custody during investigations.
The statement urges the public to ignore any misleading claims from Ms. Obasi or her associates, emphasizes Rema’s respect for the law and his upstanding reputation, and stresses reliance on official investigations rather than misinformation. The core intent is to protect Rema’s image and set the record straight on the alleged fraud.
Public Reactions: From Outrage to Polarization
Social media erupted with #JusticeForAmaka trending briefly on September 16, fueled by empathy for Obasi as a “hustling woman” versus Rema’s “untouchable star” status—echoing broader frustrations with police overreach in civil matters. Outlets like HipTv (59 likes) and NOTJUSTOK (7 likes) amplified the drama, while users like @xunillo (2 likes) sided with Rema post-statement: “Rema got scammed… now his lawyers are warning the public.”
By September 19, sentiment split: Pulse Nigeria’s coverage (37 likes) highlighted the fraud twist, shifting some support toward Rema, but feminist voices and small business advocates decry the power imbalance. As @In_filix queried Grok for a summary (0 likes but indicative of confusion), the discourse underscores calls for transparent mediation over arrests.
As of September 20, 2025, investigations continue at FCID Alagbon, with Obasi in custody and both parties urged to let “due process run its course.” Rema, ever the artist, stays mum on the beef, letting his latest track “Fun” do the talking—perhaps a subtle nod to rising above the noise. Yet, in Nigeria’s echo chamber of X and beyond, this squabble serves as a stark reminder: even stars’ dream homes can become nightmares.
The Conclusion
The Rema–Obasi dispute has snowballed from a private contract gone sour into a legal and public spectacle that highlights deeper issues in Nigeria’s creative and construction industries. At its heart, the clash is no longer just about an unfinished renovation but about reputation, power, and accountability—where every petition, arrest, and tweet fuels polarized narratives. With investigations still underway and a civil lawsuit in motion, the final verdict—both in court and in public opinion—remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that this saga underscores the fragile trust between celebrities and contractors, the dangers of trial by social media, and the pressing need for transparency and due process in resolving high-stakes disputes.
