The Nigeria Police Force has stepped into the heated controversy involving Afrobeats star Rema and interior designer Amaka Obasi, providing what it describes as the official account of why Obasi was arrested.
On Tuesday, the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, released a statement through its spokesperson, ASP Maiyegun Aminat, responding to widespread claims on social media that Obasi was being harassed and unlawfully detained on the singer’s orders.
According to the police, Obasi’s arrest was not an act of intimidation but the outcome of a formal petition lodged against her. The petition accused her company, Ardeb Lifestyle Company, of failing to fulfill the terms of a contract worth ₦386 million.
The police statement explained that an agreement was reached on April 4, 2023, between Obasi and the petitioner for the furnishing of a property. An upfront payment of ₦287 million was made, with the balance to be paid upon completion. However, during inspection, the petitioner allegedly discovered that the project was incomplete, and that some of the furniture said to have been delivered was missing.
Investigators further claimed that part of the funds had been diverted to another account and that the company’s account was not properly registered.
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 police clarification comes after an X user, @software_artist, accused Rema of using his influence to intimidate Obasi and avoid paying for completed projects. The viral thread alleged that Obasi had worked on renovations at Rema’s mother’s house in Benin and other personal projects before being arrested multiple times in connection with the dispute.
The allegations against Rema quickly stirred a wave of criticism online, with many Nigerians demanding accountability and transparency in how celebrities handle business contracts with service providers.
As of now, neither Rema nor Amaka Obasi has issued a personal statement in response to the police update. The case continues to attract intense scrutiny and heated debate across social media platforms.
