The legal representatives of Mrs. Amaka Obasi, Director of Arden Lifestyle Company, have issued a statement addressing the contractual dispute between their client and musician Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema.
In the statement dated September 28, 2025, Valerian Vianney & Partners LP said Obasi was engaged under a duly executed Designer Services Agreement to renovate a residential property belonging to Rema in Lagos.
The agreement covered structural works such as demolition, expansion of the building from four to five bedrooms, reconstruction of swimming pools, floors, tiling, installation of POP, roofing and construction of canopies.
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The law firm noted that Obasi had previously handled two projects for the Ikubor family without disputes and maintained regular communication with Rema during the renovation, including site inspections and updates through photos and videos. He added that until recently no concerns about quality had been raised.
On the issue of delays, the lawyers explained that they arose from factors outside their client’s control, including changes unilaterally introduced by Rema, restrictions imposed by property managers and increased costs due to inflation. They highlighted that Obasi did not increase his fees despite the expansion of the scope of work.
The firm said the disagreement only arose when discussions began about additional work not originally covered in the contract. He argued that the matter remains a contractual dispute and should be resolved through civil or arbitration proceedings, not criminal charges.
They also condemned the arrest of Obasi by the Nigerian Police based on Rema’s petition, describing it as a violation of his constitutional rights.
“The allegation of fraud and obtaining money by false pretenses is unfounded. The law should not be used to reframe a contractual disagreement as a criminal offense or as a tool for debt collection,” the statement reads in part.
The firm urged the public to ignore circulating allegations linking Obasi to the fraud and said it will take appropriate legal action to protect its professional reputation.
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