Rema, Interior Designer in Contract Dispute Over Lagos Property Renovation

Nigerian music star Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, is currently in a contractual dispute with interior designer Ms. Amaka Obasi, founder of Arden Lifestyle Company, over the renovation of a property in Lagos.

The disagreement became public after reports surfaced online alleging that the project had been poorly managed. In response, Ms. Obasi’s legal team released a statement strongly denying the allegations and clarifying that the issue is strictly contractual.

According to her lawyers, Valerian Vianney & Partners LP, Ms. Obasi was hired to carry out a comprehensive renovation of the property. The work reportedly included structural modifications such as converting the house from four to five bedrooms, reconstructing a swimming pool, installing new flooring and tiles, roofing, POP (Plaster of Paris) installations, and building a carport.

The legal statement noted that Ms. Obasi and her team regularly updated Mr. Ikubor and his representatives throughout the project, and no concerns about the quality of work were raised during that time.

Her lawyers also highlighted that Ms. Obasi had successfully completed two previous projects for the Ikubor family, which they say is a testament to her professional integrity and competence.

While acknowledging that the renovation took longer than initially planned, her legal team attributed the delay to several factors — including changes in the project scope, restrictions imposed by the estate management, inflation, and other unforeseen circumstances. They emphasized that the agreed contract amount remained unchanged, and no additional fees were charged despite the alterations.

The statement also expressed concern over Ms. Obasi’s reported arrest following a petition allegedly filed by Rema’s team. Her lawyers argued that such contractual disputes should not be treated as criminal cases.

“Our client firmly believes this is a civil matter and should be resolved through the appropriate civil or arbitration channels, as outlined in the signed agreement,” the law firm said.

They further described the fraud allegations made against Ms. Obasi as defamatory and stated that she intends to pursue legal action to defend her reputation.

As of the time of this report, Rema and his representatives have not issued a public response to the latest statement from Ms. Obasi’s legal team.

Source: The Sun