The law firm of EE Umahi & Associates has issued a formal demand for an unreserved public apology to Senator David Umahi from Arise Television and its presenter, Mr. Rufai Oseni, over what it described as defamatory and unprofessional conduct during a recent live interview.
In a statement signed by its principal partner, Emmanuel Umahi Ekwe and issued to Blueprint in Abuja, Sunday, the firm alleged that Mr. Oseni made baseless and unfounded allegations against Senator Umahi on the Arise TV Morning Show, including a claim that the senator had reported him to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The statement said Senator Umahi “vehemently denies these accusations, describing them as groundless and intended to damage his reputation.” The interview, the firm said, “deteriorated into a series of inappropriate personal attacks” in which the presenter questioned the legitimacy of Senator Umahi’s professorship in engineering and engaged in what it called “dismissive and provocative behaviour.”
The firm further alleged that Senator Umahi was repeatedly interrupted and subjected to “disrespectful commentary” that fell short of the professional standards expected of both the media house and its representatives.
EE Umahi & Associates maintained that the incident amounted to defamation, as it involved the dissemination of false and damaging statements to a wide public audience, thereby exposing Senator Umahi to “public contempt and ridicule.”
The statement added that Mr. Oseni’s failure to verify his claims, coupled with his resort to personal disparagement, aggravated the defamatory nature of the broadcast.
The law firm also cited a breach of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code, issued under Section 2(i)(h) of the National Broadcasting Commission Act No. 38 of 1992 (as amended), which mandates fairness, accuracy, and respect for individuals’ reputations in broadcast content.
