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In a morning television moment that has quickly gone viral across Nigerian social media, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), engaged in a heated exchange with fiery Arise News anchor Rufai Oseni. The confrontation occurred during a live broadcast of The Morning Show on February 26, 2026, where the senior lawyer was invited to discuss complex legal matters concerning state powers and federal agencies. The interview took a sharp turn when Agbakoba took exception to Oseni’s aggressive questioning style, leading to the blunt declaration: “I am not here to be cross-examined.”
The Context: A Debate on the EFCC and State Autonomy
The primary subject of the interview was a high-profile legal dispute involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its jurisdiction over state finances, specifically referencing the ongoing tensions between the commission and the Kogi State Government. Agbakoba, a staunch advocate for constitutionalism and federalism, had been offering his expert perspective on why certain federal agencies might be overstepping their bounds when dealing with sovereign state entities.
As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria with decades of experience, Agbakoba sought to provide a nuanced interpretation of the 1999 Constitution. However, the atmosphere shifted when Rufai Oseni, known for his "no-holds-barred" approach, began pushing for more direct answers regarding the accountability of state governors and the potential for federal agencies to curb local corruption.
The Clash: Expertise vs. Inquiry
The tension reached a boiling point when Oseni pressed Agbakoba on specific technicalities of the law that seemed to challenge the lawyer’s established positions. Agbakoba, visibly displeased with what he perceived as a confrontational rather than conversational tone, paused the discussion to address the anchor directly.
“Rufai, let’s get one thing straight. I am an invited guest and a legal expert,” Agbakoba remarked. “I am here to offer my professional opinion on the law, not to be cross-examined as if I am in a witness box in a courtroom.”
Oseni, undeterred, maintained that his role as a journalist was to probe the statements of public figures and experts to ensure clarity for the viewing public. This "clash of titans"—the veteran legal mind versus the relentless broadcast journalist—highlights the growing tension in Nigerian media between traditional expert deference and the modern, aggressive style of accountability journalism.
Legal Jurisprudence vs. Public Accountability
The exchange underscored a deeper issue within the Nigerian legal and political landscape: the struggle between legal technicality and moral accountability.
- Agbakoba’s Position: As a SAN, his focus remained on the legality of actions—the "how" and "why" of constitutional procedures. He argued that if the law does not explicitly grant a federal agency power over a state’s internal ledger, then the agency is acting illegally, regardless of the intent to fight corruption.
- Oseni’s Position: Representing the "public court," Oseni’s questioning focused on the utility of the law. His line of inquiry suggested that the law should not be used as a shield by state actors to avoid scrutiny from federal anti-graft bodies.
This ideological divide is what made the interview so explosive. Agbakoba felt his professional integrity was being questioned, while Oseni felt he was simply doing his job as a "watchdog."
Social Media Reaction and the "Rufai Factor"
Within minutes of the exchange, clips were circulating on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. The "Rufai Factor" has become a staple of Nigerian news, where the anchor’s confrontational style often becomes the story itself. Supporters of Oseni praised him for not being intimidated by Agbakoba’s "SAN" status, while critics argued that he lacked the professional decorum required when interviewing elders and distinguished professionals.
Dr. Agbakoba’s refusal to be "cross-examined" has sparked a wider debate about the ethics of television interviewing in Nigeria. Should experts be allowed to speak uninterrupted, or is the "cross-examination" style necessary to peel back the layers of complex legal jargon that often confuse the average citizen?
Conclusion: A Lesson in Media Relations
The clash on Arise News serves as a reminder of the shifting dynamics in Nigerian media. For guests, it signifies that "expert status" no longer guarantees a comfortable platform. For journalists, it is a reminder that while probing is necessary, the goal of an interview is information dissemination, which requires a level of mutual respect to be successful.
As the legal battle between the EFCC and various state governments continues in the actual courtrooms, the "court of public opinion" remains divided on who won the battle of words on the Arise TV set. One thing is certain: Olisa Agbakoba has set a firm boundary on how he expects to be treated in the media space.
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