Nigerian Afrobeats star Divine Ikubor, better known as Rema, is under scrutiny after relatives of an interior designer alleged he orchestrated her arrest during a dispute over payment.
The designer, Amaka Obasi, was reportedly contracted to work on Rema’s new home. Her family says she has been held in detention for more than 48 hours after demanding payment for the project.
In posts on social media, a relative named Derrick claimed Obasi was invited to a meeting with the singer’s lawyers to resolve the disagreement, but was instead handed over to officers from the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Lagos.
“Rema is using the Nigeria Police Force to harass and detain Amaka all because she asked for payment,” Derrick alleged, adding that the family had received threatening calls warning them to delete their posts or risk Obasi being paraded as a criminal.
The claims have ignited a wave of debate online with some fans condemning the alleged use of police in what appears to be a civil contract dispute.
“How can police be arresting someone over a contract? Show me where in Nigerian law it says police should meddle in civil matters,” one user wrote, echoing widespread frustration about abuses of power.
Others urged restraint, stressing that Rema’s version of events has not yet been heard. “We can’t conclude and judge from her story alone. We need to hear the other side,” another commenter said.
Supporters of the singer have pushed back with a different account. According to posts circulating on X (formerly Twitter), Rema allegedly paid the designer more than ₦400 million (about $280,000) for the project, which she reportedly promised to deliver within three months. Over a year later, the property was said to remain incomplete, with additional requests for funds continuing.
The controversy has tapped into long-running debates in Nigeria about police involvement in private matters, and the extent to which celebrity influence and wealth can tilt the balance of power.
Rema, one of Afrobeats’ most prominent global exports whose music has topped charts from Lagos to Los Angeles, has not publicly responded to the allegations.
