By Observers Times
Qwick Properties Limited, owner of a luxury duplex at No. 6 Yobe Close, Maitama, Abuja, has filed a lawsuit at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory against Chief Nduka Obaigbena, publisher of THISDAY newspaper and founder of ARISE News, over unpaid rent amounting to N50 million.
The rent dispute, which has stretched for over a year, centres on a two-wing semi-detached duplex located in the upscale Maitama District of Abuja. Legal documents, demand letters, tenancy notices, and a pre-action counselling certificate obtained by Observers Times reveal a lengthy timeline of engagements between the landlord, its property managers, and Chief Obaigbena, culminating in a formal court action.
The property, managed by Niran Adetunji & Co., Estate Surveyors and Valuers, was initially leased to Obaigbena under a tenancy agreement covering both the left and right wings of the duplex. Records show that the tenancy on the right wing expired on 30 December 2023, while the tenancy on the left wing was set to expire by effluxion of time on 30 June 2024.
In a letter dated 17 April 2024, Niran Adetunji & Co. reminded the tenant of the approaching expiry of the left wing lease and urged payment of rent arrears on the right wing, which had lapsed months earlier. The letter also communicated an upward rent review, pegging the new rate at N25 million per annum per wing, effective from 2 January 2024.
The letter, signed by ESV. Niran Adetunji (FNIVS, MSc, FCAI), read:
“We write to inform you once again that your current tenancy… would expire by effluxion of time on 30th of June, 2024. In view of this, it would be highly appreciated, if we can be called upon in good time for the collection of the rent together with the outstanding one for the right wing Semi-detached duplex that expired since 30th December, 2023.”
Despite the notification, the rent dispute remained unresolved. A follow-up letter dated August 2024 referenced an earlier quit notice issued on 25 June 2024. In that correspondence, the landlord offered two options: either accept the revised rent of N25 million per wing or opt to retain one wing at a negotiated rate of N30 million while relinquishing the second.
“Without prejudice to the already issued Quit Notice dated 25/06/2024… we hereby write you once again… to accept the new discounted rental rate of N25 million only per annum and per wing… or to accept to pay for only one wing at the rate of N30 million only per annum and agree to handover the second wing back to us for onward transfer back to the property owner.”
The landlord demanded that any selected option must be accompanied by immediate settlement of the outstanding rent.
By December 2024, the outstanding rental obligations reportedly stood at N50 million. In another formal letter, the property managers reiterated the total sum owed and provided account details for payment, urging the tenant to honour his verbal commitment to pay.
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“Kindly refer to our various correspondences and your personal promise to offset the total outstanding rents… The agreed review rents for the properties covering one year term respectively is in the sum of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) only.”
The letter cited prior discussions and correspondence as a basis for enforcement, closing with an appeal to Obaigbena’s “breadth of understanding.”
When no payment was made, Qwick Properties Limited initiated legal proceedings. Court filings obtained by Observers Times show that the suit, Messrs Qwick Properties Ltd. v. Chief Nduka Obaigbena, was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Judicial Division. Attached to the suit is a Pre-Action Counselling Certificate dated 23 April 2025, in which the claimant’s counsel confirmed that the case had been evaluated for merit and was not frivolous.
Under Nigerian civil procedure rules, such a certificate is mandatory before the commencement of tenancy-related lawsuits. In the certificate, the claimant’s lawyer affirmed counselling Qwick Properties Limited on the strengths and weaknesses of its claim and personally undertook to bear the cost of proceedings if the claim proved frivolous—a declaration required by law to discourage abuse of judicial process.
The legal crisis surrounding the case took a new turn on Monday, 19 May 2025, as a team of lawyers led by Dr. Frank Ike Chude formally entered a conditional appearance on Obaigbena’s behalf at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. The case, marked Suit No: CV/1650/25, pits Qwick Properties Ltd (Claimant) against Chief Nduka Obaigbena (Defendant) and stems from a string of unresolved rent obligations and disputes over new tenancy terms dating back to December 2023.
In response to the court summons, Obaigbena’s legal team, led by Dr. Chude and comprising Ojo Olukayode, Esq., and Eve Fantah Olowofela, Esq., submitted a Memorandum of Conditional Appearance on 19 May 2025. This legal action does not constitute a full defence but indicates the defendant’s intention to contest the jurisdiction or validity of the suit. The conditional appearance was entered through I.F. Chude & Associates, based in Wuse Zone 1, Abuja. The matter is now formally before the FCT High Court and expected to proceed to preliminary hearings in the coming weeks.
Chief Nduka Obaigbena, one of Nigeria’s most prominent media entrepreneurs, has yet to publicly comment on the litigation. As publisher of THISDAY newspaper and founder of ARISE News Channel, he occupies a unique position in Nigeria’s media landscape. The legal action, however, draws fresh scrutiny to his financial dealings, particularly as the disputed rent covers one of Abuja’s most affluent residential areas.
Observers Times gathered that the Maitama District, where the disputed property is located, is widely regarded as one of Abuja’s most prestigious and high-value residential zones. The area is home to several embassies, senior government officials, and high-net-worth individuals, and is often associated with exclusivity and premium real estate.
According to data from Nigeria Property Centre, “the average annual rent for houses in Maitama District stands at ₦35.3 million,” confirming the area’s luxury status and the competitive rental market for high-end duplexes.
Further analysis by NaijaSpider Blog noted that “Maitama is one of Abuja’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, home to embassies, high commissions, and luxurious mansions.” It added that “the average rent for a 5-bedroom duplex ranges from ₦15 million to ₦25 million per year, depending on location and amenities.”
Qwick Properties Limited’s insistence on full payment at N25 million per wing aligns with these benchmarks. With two wings in use by Obaigbena, the landlord’s claim of N50 million as cumulative rent for the period is consistent with prevailing market conditions.
Observers Times reports that the dispute over unpaid rent at Chief Nduka Obaigbena’s Maitama residence has now escalated into a full-blown legal battle, following months of ignored reminders, quit notices, and upward rent reviews.
