FCT Aide Lere Olayinka Attacks Arise TV Host Rufai Oseni, Calls Him “Ex-Convict”

Rufai Oseni, a television personality and anchor with Arise TV, has come under fire from Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Olayinka accused Oseni of being an “ex-convict” unfit to conduct interviews with law-abiding Nigerians.

In August 2022, Oseni was charged for driving on the BRT lane in Lagos and resisting police arrest. He was brought before a Lagos Mobile Court under the Lagos State Transport Law of 2018.

The court found him guilty, imposing a ₦70,000 fine. His car was released after he paid the penalty.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Olayinka wrote:

• “Normal normal, ex-convict @ruffydfire no suppose dey work in a TV station and be saying I PUT IT TO YOUnah.”

• “In Nigeria, an ex-convict mustn’t hold public office until after 10 years. @ruffydfire was convicted in 2022.”

• “An ex-convict working in @ARISEtv and interviewing law-abiding Nigerians is an aberration. He needs our prayers.”

He also accused the broadcaster of moving from “psychology to psychosis.”

The remarks have stirred debate online, with critics framing Olayinka’s comments as a politically motivated attackgiven Arise TV’s frequent scrutiny of government officials.

Oseni himself has not publicly responded to Olayinka’s statements at the time of this report.