The Nigerian Police Force has shed light on the controversy surrounding the arrest of interior designer Amaka Obasi, who was accused on social media of being harassed and detained on the orders of Afrobeats star Rema.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by ASP Maiyegun Aminat, Police Public Relations Officer of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, the arrest was based on a formal petition submitted to the unit.
The petition alleged that Obasi, trading under the name Ardeb Lifestyle Company, failed to fulfill the terms of a contract worth ₦386 million.
The statement explained that on April 4, 2023, an agreement was reached between Obasi and the petitioner for the furnishing of a property, with an initial payment of ₦287 million made upfront.
However, upon inspection, the petitioner claimed that the project was left incomplete and that furniture supposedly delivered was missing. Investigators further alleged that part of the funds was diverted into another account and that the company’s account was not properly registered.
The police noted that both parties were advised to bring in an independent valuer to assess the funds and level of work completed, but Obasi reportedly declined to provide either a valuer’s report or legal representation until her eventual arrest.
The statement reads:
“In this matter, a written petition was submitted to the FCID. The petitioner stated that an agreement was entered on 4th April 2023 with Miss Amaka Obasi, operating under the business name Ardeb Lifestyle Company, for a project valued at ₦386,000,000. A part payment of ₦287,000,000 was made, with the balance agreed to be paid upon completion.
However, upon inspection, the petitioner discovered that the project was incomplete and the furniture claimed to have been delivered was not in the building . The investigation further revealed that after receiving the funds, Miss Obasi failed to meet the terms of the signed agreement and instead transferred part of the money to another account.
Investigators also noted that the account number used by Ardeb Lifestyle Company was not properly linked or registered. Both parties were accordingly advised to engage an independent valuer to ascertain the position of funds and project execution. Instead, Miss Obasi declined to provide either a valuer’s report or a legal representative, until she was eventually apprehended today.
The public is hereby urged to be wary of individuals who circulate misleading information aimed at deceiving well-meaning Nigerians. It is important to reiterate that the Nigeria Police Force does not serve personal interests or vendettas, but operates strictly in accordance with the law”
The development comes after an X user, @software_artist, accused Rema of using his influence to intimidate Obasi over unpaid projects, alleging that she had been arrested multiple times in relation to the dispute. The posts sparked an online backlash against the singer, with claims that the designer had previously worked on renovations for Rema’s mother’s house and other personal projects before the fallout.
Neither Rema nor Obasi has personally issued a statement since the police update. The case, however, continues to stir debate online, with many Nigerians calling for transparency in how disputes between celebrities and contractors are handled.
