By Sahara Reporters

Copyright saharareporters

Nigerian hip-hop artist, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has been accused of instigating the arrest of an independent interior decorator Ms. Amaka Obasi over a contract dispute and unpaid fees.

In a document obtained by SaharaReporters, Amaka Obasi and Rema signed a Design Services Agreement.

The agreement, dated April 4, 2025, was made and entered into by the parties: Divine Ikubor (p/k/a Rema), of 13 Abiola Court, and Amaka Obasi.

A source told SaharaReporters that after signing the agreement with Amaka, Rema allegedly later included items that were not part of the original agreement.

In another document obtained by SaharaReporters, Amaka wrote to Rema through her lawyer, stating that Rema had instructed her to build a studio — a critical tool for his work as an artist.

Acting in good faith, Amaka built the studio, only for Rema to decline, neglect, or willfully refuse to make payment for it, despite repeated demands.

Rema’s over-indebtedness on the property prevented estate management from granting Amaka access to the site for over a week, making it impossible for any contractor to carry out work while locked out.

Furthermore, Rema failed in his basic duty to provide electricity and water. Far from abandoning the project, Amaka, at Rema’s request, expended additional time and resources to build a water tank, absorbing further delays.

However, she has yet to be paid for the construction of the tank she requested, which left Rema feeling insulted and ordering action on her behalf.

A source told SaharaReporters that Amaka, who runs The Arden Lifestyle Company, was reportedly lured to a supposed reconciliation meeting on August 30, 2025, following a contract dispute with the musician.

Instead, she was arrested by officers of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Lagos.

Meanwhile, a bank transfer document obtained by SaharaReporters shows that Amaka transferred funds to a POS operator, Nnena Joan Aneke, who, according to the source, usually collects money on behalf of the errant officers at Alagbon.

The source identified the officers involved in collecting the money as CSP Lasisi Babatunde (PA to AIG) – Persecuting Team Lead, ASP Kenneth Precious Okoh – the most senior officer in the team after Lasisi, and AIG Margaret Ochalla.

The source, who was present during the transaction, said the police officers initially demanded ₦7 million but later accepted ₦1.1 million as bail.

They then instructed Amaka to remain incommunicado so that Rema would believe she was still in custody.

Despite this, the police secretly secured a remand warrant against her while her lawyer was away for a brief meeting with Amaka’s family.

“At first, the police demanded ₦7 million from the client but eventually collected ₦1.1 million to release her. They then instructed her to switch off her devices and stay undercover — and keep a very low profile so that Rema would not know she had been released. The aim was to give Rema the impression that she was still being held in their custody.

“She was then asked to report the next day. She had been arrested on a Saturday, so instead of returning the following day (Sunday), she reported on Monday. That evening, around 8:30–9:00 p.m., she went home, only to be instructed to return again on Monday.

“When she came back on Monday, no one from Rema was present at the station. Instead, they took her to her bank, forced her to hand over her bank documents, and ordered her to report again the next day. By this point, she was visibly ill — she is asthmatic and had hynia — so I intervened. We wrote to them, explaining that her health condition would not allow her to keep returning. We suggested rescheduling for either Friday of that week or Monday, September 5. Since Friday was a public holiday, they settled for Monday.

“By that Monday, she was still unwell. We wrote again and our lawyer sent his colleague, a lawyer, to deliver the letter to the AIG’s office. Each of our letters was acknowledged. We appealed for a further extension, and they agreed to the following Monday. Meanwhile, because the case was clearly a civil matter, we had already filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court. We attempted to serve them, but the agency rejected the process, claiming we were only giving them an advance copy and that the court must serve them formally.

“On Sunday, our lawyer called a senior officer on the team to assure him that we would personally come with Amaka on Monday as promised. He agreed. However, when we arrived on Monday, they detained her, alleging that she had jumped bail and failed to honour their invitations,” the source said.

Meanwhile, documents obtained by SaharaReporters reveal that Amaka Obasi has filed an application for enforcement of her fundamental rights at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division.

The police, however, rejected her application and secretly obtained a remand order to keep her in detention until October.

The case is filed under Suit No. FHC/L/CV/1775/25, between: Ms. Amaka Obasi as the applicant and the Inspector General of Police, the Nigerian Police, Mr. Divine Ikubor a.k.a. Rema, and Mr. Sean Okeke as the respondents.

However, in her application, Amaka seeks: A declaration that she is entitled to her right to personal liberty, freedom of movement, and dignity, as guaranteed by Sections 35, 36, 43, 44, and 45 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and Articles 5 and 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

“A declaration that the design service dispute between the Applicant and the 3rd and 4th Respondents is purely civil and contractual in nature, and therefore falls outside the jurisdiction of the 1st and 2nd Respondents.

“A declaration that the arrest and detention of the Applicant by the 1st and 2nd Respondents, instigated by the 3rd and 4th Respondents over a civil design service dispute, contravenes Section 35(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9, as well as Articles 3, 4, and 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd Respondents, whether directly or through their servants, privies, or agents, from further arresting, inviting, or detaining the Applicant at the instance of the 3rd and 4th Respondents pursuant to the contractual/civil transaction between the Applicant and the 3rd and 4th Respondents.

Additionally, she prayed the court to award:Special damages of ₦1,105,000 (One Million, One Hundred and Five Thousand Naira), being the money the 1st–4th Respondents compelled her to pay for supposed bail. General damages of ₦50,000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) jointly and severally against the 1st–4th Respondents for gross violation of her fundamental rights as guaranteed under Section 35(3) of the Constitution, Article 6 of the African Charter, and Articles 3, 4, and 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And cost of action of ₦5,000,000 (Five Million Naira).

Another family source told SaharaReporters that the accusation was baseless.

“Beyond the letters the lawyer had written out of respect for their office, he had been in constant phone communication with them—speaking every two days. How then could she be accused of jumping bail? They insisted she caused them stress, claiming they had to visit her residence, and on that basis, they detained her again.

“By the next morning, we returned to their office. The lady was too sick to speak. We reminded them that this was a civil dispute, yet they continued to detain her despite already collecting ₦1.1 million. They no longer take bail in cash; instead, they direct transfers to a proxy account, typically that of a personal aide they use for such transactions.

“Despite suffering from asthma and a hernia, Amaka remains illegally detained,” the source said.

Meanwhile, Amaka, through her lawyer, wrote to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos State, dated 2 September 2025, requesting to be allowed to present herself for the interview on Friday, 5 September 2025, or Monday, 8 September 2025, as she had fallen ill immediately upon her return from the station due to the events of the past few days and the attendant trauma. She is currently receiving medical care.

The statement read, “We are Solicitors to Ms. Amaka Obasi (Our “Client”), and we write on her express instructions.

“We refer to the understanding had between your good office and our Client at the meeting held yesterday, 1 September 2025 wherein upon the absence of the complainant, you directed our Client to return today for interview with the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (“AIG”) in furtherance of the ongoing investigation.

“Regrettably our client immediately took ill upon her return from the Station due to the events of the past few days and the attendant trauma it has caused on her and is currently receiving medical care, as such we respectfully crave your indulgence to kindly reschedule the interview date. Consequently, our Client has kindly requested to be allowed to present herself for the interview on Friday, 5 September 2025 от Monday, 8 September 2025 subject to your convenience.

“Our Client profoundly regrets any inconvenience this request may cause,” the statement added.

However, the Amaka family stated that the matter between Amaka and Rema is a contractual dispute, which is purely civil and not within the purview of the police.

They further asserted that the police should recuse themselves from the matter, and that their continued harassment of Amaka over this civil dispute is an affront to her fundamental rights as a person and citizen of this country.

“And that’s to the effect that the matter between Amaka and Rema is a contractual dispute which is purely civil and not within the purview of the police.

“That the police should recuse themselves from the matter. That their continuous persecution of Amaka over this civil dispute is an affront to her fundamental rights as a person and citizen of this country.

“That the 1.1m fraudulently collection from her be paid back as the payment was unjustifiable as payment for bail is not recognised by law.

“That if Rema has a genuine case of breach of contract he should approach the court to ventilate his grievances,” they said.

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