Rema, interior designer in contract dispute over Lagos property renovation

By Chinenye Anuforo

Nigerian singer Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, and interior designer Amaka Obasi, principal of Arden Lifestyle Company, are currently embroiled in a contractual dispute over the renovation of a Lagos property.

The disagreement surfaced after online reports alleged that the project had been mishandled. In response, Obasi’s lawyers issued a statement firmly rejecting the claims and insisting that the matter is purely contractual.

According to her legal representatives, Valerian Vianney & Partners LP, Obasi was engaged to carry out extensive renovations, including structural changes such as expanding the property from four to five bedrooms, reconstructing a swimming pool, installing flooring and tiling, roofing works, POP installation, and building a carport.

The statement said regular updates were shared with Ikubor and his team throughout the project, with no concerns raised about quality at the time.

Her lawyers also noted that Obasi had handled two prior projects for the Ikubor family to their satisfaction, which they argue reflected her professional credibility.

While acknowledging that the project exceeded its original timeline, her legal team attributed the delay to “scope changes, estate management restrictions, inflation, and other incidental events,” rather than non-performance.

They maintained that the contract sum had been mutually agreed upon and that fees were not increased despite the alleged changes.

The statement also raised concerns over Obasi’s reported arrest following a petition by Rema’s representatives, arguing that contractual disagreements should not be treated as criminal matters.

“Our client believes the dispute falls strictly within civil and arbitral frameworks as stipulated in the agreement,” the law firm said.

The lawyers described the fraud allegations as defamatory and said their client intends to seek appropriate legal remedies.

At the time of filing this report, representatives of Rema had not publicly responded to the latest statement from Obasi’s legal team.