Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman Arise TV and THISDAY Media Group, is facing a legal battle over allegations of unpaid rent amounting to over ₦50 million on two high-end duplexes in Maitama, Abuja.
Qwick Properties, the property management company overseeing the duplexes located at Houses A and B, No. 8 Yobe Close, Off Yedseram Street, Maitama, has filed a lawsuit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court against Obaigbena. The suit stems from his alleged failure to pay rent consistently since December 2022, despite occupying the properties.
Court documents obtained by Peoples Gazette reveal that the rent, initially ₦16 million per unit, was increased to ₦25 million per unit in January 2024. Qwick Properties reportedly offered Obaigbena a concession — ₦30 million for one unit or a discounted ₦50 million total for both — but he neither responded nor paid.
Despite multiple notices to quit and letters from the landlord’s legal representative, Niran Adetunji & Co, Mr. Obaigbena remained in the duplexes, prompting legal action. The law firm stated that as of June 2024, rent arrears stood at approximately ₦49.5 million, further claiming that the tenant’s continued occupation placed the landlord in a “financially tight corner.”
READ ALSO: Utomi gets court date on Shadow Government
Qwick Properties is asking the court not only to evict Mr. Obaigbena but also to award damages. They are seeking ₦2 million in profit losses and an additional ₦84,000 for every month he occupies the homes beyond July 2024 for House B and January 2025 for House A.
While Mr. Obaigbena has not issued a public statement, he has filed a Memorandum of Conditional Appearance, which suggests he may challenge the jurisdiction of the court. If successful, the case could be dismissed on procedural grounds.
This is not the first time Obaigbena has faced legal or financial scrutiny. In January 2025, reports surfaced that he had been blacklisted from Nigerian banks over an outstanding $718 million debt tied to FBN Holdings.
Observers see this case as another high-profile legal entanglement for one of Nigeria’s most prominent media figures, raising questions about accountability and the legal protection of property owners in Nigeria’s high-end real estate market.
The Conclave
