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Tag: Timi Frank

  • Onoh faults Timi Frank over alleged fake documents against Wike

    Onoh faults Timi Frank over alleged fake documents against Wike

    President Bola Tinubu’s former campaign spokesman in the south east, Dr Josef Onoh, has threatened to send the former spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Timi Frank, to two years imprisonment for parading uncertified documents against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and President Tinubu’s administration.

    Frank had disseminated documents to the media where he alleged that the FCT minister has been amassing lands in Abuja to fund the 2027 campaign for President Tinubu.

    But Onoh faulted Frank’s documents as fake and uncertified, referring him to landmark judgements where uncerified documents were rendered null and void and as false claims.

    Onoh stated that Wike’s Contributions to FCT development since assuming office in August 2023 were not limited to infrastructural advancements in the FCT roads rehabilitation and schools improvement, but also in enhanced security measures. 

    Onoh noted that Wike’s revenue generation strategies have increased the FCT’s internally generated revenue from Eight to Nine billion Naira monthly, sufficient to fund projects, demonstrating Wike’s commitment to public welfare and not personal or political enrichment.

    He said that Frank’s reliance on unverified and uncertified documents to support his allegations is legally untenable and undermines the principles of evidence under Nigerian law. 

    “Even the Evidence Act 2011: Section 89(e) requires that public documents, such as land allocation records, be certified to be admissible in evidence.”

    He stressed that an uncertified document lacks authenticity just like the ones in circulation that Frank based his statements upon and cannot be relied upon in legal proceedings or as a basis for public accusations. 

    “Also Frank and social media bloggers should know that Section 104 mandates that copies of public documents must be certified by the appropriate authority to confirm their genuineness. Without certification, such documents are mere hearsay and lack probative value and that’s the point I intend to make Nigerians understand, including Comrade Frank.

    “The Supreme Court of Nigeria in cases like Araka v. Egbue (2003) and Ogbunyiya v. Okudo (1979) has consistently held that uncertified documents are inadmissible and cannot form the basis of any legitimate claim or accusation. Mr. Frank’s failure to provide certified evidence renders his allegations speculative and legally baseless.

    “By peddling unverified claims, Mr. Frank is not only misleading the public but also risks legal consequences for spreading false information, as such actions contravene the principles of fair hearing and due process enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. 

    “I dare him to push such false narratives against Mr. President and he will feel the full weight of the law. Freedom of speech doesn’t mean one should constitute himself a charlatan and nuisance especially Timi Frank’s utterances,” Onoh dared.

    He noted that accusing Minister Wike of looting Abuja lands to fund President Tinubu’s 2027 campaign constitute a clear violation of Section 391 of the Penal Code Act, which addresses criminal defamation. 

    The section provides that, ‘Whoever, by words either spoken or written, or by signs or visible representations, imputes anything to any person with intent to harm the reputation of such person, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of such person, is said to defame that person.’ 

    It also stipulates that such an act is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with a fine, or with both.

    “Frank’s Imputation of criminal conduct, by alleging that Minister Wike is “looting” public lands and engaging in corrupt practices to fund a political campaign, imputes criminal behavior, including abuse of office and misappropriation of public assets, without evidence. This directly harms the reputation of both Minister Wike and my principal, President Tinubu. 

    “His statements, made publicly and without substantiation, demonstrate a reckless intent to tarnish Minister Wike’s reputation and undermine his credibility as a public servant. Including the president. The inflammatory nature of the accusations, coupled with their dissemination through media channels, amplifies the defamatory impact.

    “As a former deputy spokesman of the APC, I had presumed Mr. Frank understands the gravity of making unverified allegations against a serving minister. I’m utterly disappointed at his failure to provide certified evidence or credible documentation, which shows a knowing disregard for the truth, fulfilling the mens rea (guilty mind) required under Section 391. 

    Read Also: Allegations against Wike political, unsubstantiated, says Onoh

    “The reason why I maintain his comments was politically motivated and not in the interest of Nigerians is because his allegations also seek to erode public trust in the Tinubu administration by suggesting complicity through the President’s alleged “silence.” which constitutes an attack on the integrity of the government, further compounding the defamatory nature of his statements.

    “Finally, Mr. Timi Frank’s allegations are politically motivated attempts to discredit Minister Nyesom Wike’s exemplary service in the FCT. The claims are devoid of evidence, rely on inadmissible uncertified documents, and violate Section 391 of the Penal Code Act by defaming the Minister and the President. 

    “I urge the public to disregard these baseless accusations and commend the ongoing efforts of anti-corruption agencies to investigate any credible claims. Minister Wike remains committed to transforming the FCT in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and such distractions will not deter his focus on delivering for Nigerians. 

    “Timi Frank is only good at Frankly lying, and I dare him to publish further unverified statements and risk the consequences of his irresponsibility,” Onoh dared.

  • Embark on massive project execution, Timi Frank tells PDP governors-elect

    Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank wants all elected candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) not to betray the confidence of the people, but to be strongly determined to embark on massive execution of projects that will have direct bearing on Nigerians.

    Frank in a congratulatory message to the elected PDP governors across the country also asked the courts to void the elections of all APC governors and do what he described as the needful, saying the governing party has lost the confidence of Nigerians and are no longer in position to win any free and fair election.

    The former APC spokesman who has since pitched his tent with the PDP also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to toe the part of honour and publicly apologised to Nigerians for being a beneficiary of an electoral process tinted with fraud.

    Read Also: PDP, Secondus congratulate Wike, others on victory

    Frank salutes the courage of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, Bala Mohammed in Bauchi state and Fintiri in Adamawa state for fighting hard to defend the mandate of the people for the opposition party, while  felicitating with all other PDP governors-elect, Senators-elect, House of Representatives Members-elect and all the State House of Assembly members-elect across the country.

    He said the opposition PDP fought a good fight throughout the country despite what he described as “evil marriage and conspiracy by the APC government with security agencies and the electoral body to turn Nigeria to a one party state.”

    He said the ruling party “has now lost popularity in all the states of the federation, struggled to rig where it won and eventually becomes a regional party having lost massively in South-east and the South-south zones.

    “I make bold to say that the APC in Nigeria of today can never win a free, fair and credible election at all levels.”

    According to the former APC spokesman, the flood of petitions to Electoral Petition Tribunals across the states is an evidence of a sham and badly conducted election in the history of Nigeria under the APC government.

    “This election puts President Muhammadu Buhari’s integrity in question except he toes the path of late President Musa Yar’adua, who acknowledged that the election that brought him into office, was characterized by fraud and apologise to Nigerians.

    “When I raised alarms over plan to militarise the just concluded elections, some people didn’t take it serious but Nigerians could see how a government expected to protect them unleashed its institutions on them as video evidence of Ballot box snatching, intimidation of voters and massive manipulation of their votes were witnessed during the elections.

    “While I wholeheartedly congratulate the opposition PDP candidates across the country who could not be rigged, especially in Rivers, Bauchi, Adamawa, Oyo, Imo and others, I strongly believe that Judiciary will do the needful in Kano, Nasarawa, Kastina among other states where the will of the people were obviously manipulated.

    “I urge all the victorious PDP candidates to strongly determine to better the lot of their people who have repose confidence in them by massively embarking on projects and policies which will have direct positive bearing on the lives of Nigerians.”

    While calling on the PDP supporters to remain calm, Frank assured that the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, will reclaim the mandate freely given during the presidential election at the court of law.

  • INEC indictment: Apologise to Nigerians, Frank tells Buratai

    Following the indictment of the military for their role in the governorship and state Assembly election, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, wants the Chief of Army staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, to  tender a public apology to Nigerians.

    Reacting to a statement credited to the INEC on Saturday expressing displeasure over the role played by armed military personnel during the Rivers state governorship election, Frank said he had been vindicated.

    He said he had  earlier raised an alarm calling on the military authorities to be neutral before the election, adding that instead of the security agency to heed his call, “Buratai and his co-politicians in military uniform disregarded it and tagged him as a “Protagonist of Fake News.”

    While describing the military’s involvement in the 2019 general elections as shameful, Frank said if the likes of Buratai and his cohorts are tired of wearing military uniforms “they should form a political party or publicly register as a department under the APC.”

    He challenged the military to name just one country in Africa or the entire world where their colleagues have brazenly taken sides during elections “like what Nigeria witnessed in both the presidential, National Assembly and governorship elections?

    Read Also: Ijaw youths to Buratai: call your men to order

    “In 2015, there was no reported case of an active involvement of military personnel during the general elections. Although, that was the last time Nigeria had a civilian President who had respect for democracy and the rule of law.

    “Therefore, the honest declaration by the INEC regarding the involvement of military under Buratai in the Rivers State governorship election is a shame and I deserve apology from the Nigerian Army for tagging me as a “Protagonist of Fake News.

    “Evil, they say, can only succeed when good people refuse to talk. As far as Nigeria is concerned, I and other likeminds shall not be intimidated or forced into a conspiracy of silence in the face of oppression – which the Nigerian military under Buratai is reputed for”

  • INEC ordered supplementary election unnecessary, says Timi Frank

    A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Comrade Timi Frank has said that the supplementary elections ordered by the Independent National Electoral Commission was unnecessary since the commission has already declared a winner of the Presidential election and issue a certificate of return.

    In a statement made available to newsmen, Frank said the supplementary election ordered by INEC was an indirect way of covering up it’s inadequacies as seen in the last elections which he said was manipulated in favour of the APC.

    Frank cautioned Nigerians not to be fooled by INEC to conduct a supplementary presidential elections in some parts of the country where elections didn’t hold, describing the exercise as a mere charade and a cheap blackmail by the electoral body trying assiduously to hoodwink Nigerians into being part of a larger game plan of legalising its doctored results in the event of a judicial decision at the tribunal.

    Frank said the INEC boss, having realised his gaffe in handling the just concluded presidential polls, which he stated was marred by unprecedented widespread disenfranchisement by way of violence, deliberate voter suppression, intimidation and threats of Resident Electoral Commissioners by security forces, “is trying everything possible to save his neck from the gravity of the available evidences as witnessed in this monumental sham called elections.”

    He said further that having realised the determination of the opposition in proceeding to the courts for redress, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, “who is now obviously jittery is suddenly desperate in conducting supplementary presidential elections at a time when he had earlier refused after his attention was sought by the PDP agent at the national collation centre.

    “This sudden rigmarole in retracing his step can at best be described as ‘medicine after death’ having already issues a certificate of return to the purported winner of the February 23rd elections.”

    He said the INEC Chairman need to answer some silient questions such as, “whose purpose will a supplementary elections serve, when a certificate of return has been duly issued? Is the total population of the areas where the supplementary elections will hold greater than the margin of 3,928,869 illegally awarded the ruling party as recorded by INEC?

    “Why the sudden haste in organizing a supplementary presidential election, when INEC and its election observers have adjudge the elections to be free, fair and credible.

    “Which observers will INEC depend on to supervise these supplementary elections? Why should Nigerians trust the INEC chairman with their safety and fairness when they’re already aware of the daylight robbery and connivance with the ruling party last Saturday?

    Read Also: INEC says it has no issues with Abia North’s result

    He said the INEC chairman must be reminded that Nigerians may not be as foolish and gullible as assumed by the ruling party and its collaborators in the commission.

    He said the decision of the PDP candidate to proceed to the tribunal for redress of his stolen mandate is within his rights and as such, any talk of a supplementary elections may be dead on arrival,  as the INEC chairman must accept culpability and responsibilities for his actions and inactions when the time of reckoning beckons.

    “The INEC chairman disregarded all calls from stakeholders to be liberal in his judgement by halting the announcement of a winner given to the gravity of intimidation and widespread military takeover of its states collation centres, but instead proceeded with proclaiming a winner without recourse to fairness and equity.

    “Having announced a winner therefore, it will be right to assume that INEC has complied with the electoral act and may not necessarily need any supplementary elections as that action may be fruitless ab initio.

    “It is rather unfortunate that the international elections observers and monitors who had a mandate in reporting irregularities and other electoral malpractices as in the norm worldwide, were instead cowed and coerced into adjudging the elections as free, fair and credible at a time when local observers had dismissed the credibility of the elections owing to widespread intimidation / manipulations and military brutality in opposition strongholds leading to the death of innocent Nigerians. In summary Nigerians across board have come to the conclusions, that this was the worst elections ever in the history of their return to democracy.

    “I would like to commend the PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on his resolve to reclaiming his mandate at the tribunal, as only the will of God will prevail in the affairs of men. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the wish of the people and that wish will stand in due course. The cabal and it’s collaborators will realize that nothing can stop destiny when it’s TIME has come.”

  • Buhari urged justify integrity through credible polls

    A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to put his integrity to work by being faithful to his promise to ensure free, fair and credible Presidential and national assembly elections on Saturday.

    He said the President must also demonstrate his strong resolve for a united Nigeria and prove to the whole world that he is really in charge of affairs in the country by working his talks as contained in his nationwide broadcast on Thursday.

    In a statement made available to The Nation, Frank said: “It is good that President Buhari has once again pledged to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible. That is what Nigerians and the world expect of him at this time save for the fact that those who are out to frustrate and rig the elections on his behalf are people he supervises directly.

    “If the President is serious with his promise, let him stop the security agencies, especially the police, military and the DSS from intimidating and harassing Nigerians especially opposition party leaders as we count down to the first election tomorrow.

    “If the President is serious with his promise, let him stop illegal arrests and disruption of voting anywhere across the country by security agencies.

    “If the President is serious on his promise to guarantee a credible election, let him withdraw his men mounting undue pressure on INEC officials to help him win re-election by fraudulently allocating unearned votes to the APC.

    “If the President is serious, let him warn the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, all National Commissioners of INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioners, staff and all adhoc staff of the agency to abide by their oath of office which is to put Nigeria first above personal and selfish gain during these elections.

    “If the President wants Nigerians and the world to take him serious, let him stop the evil being plotted to disable GSM and internet signals nationwide in order to frustrate voters and election observers from communicating, sharing information and comparing notes.”

    He urged the President to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan whose commitment to democratic ideals led to a highly acceptable electoral outcome in 2015 and a peaceful transmission of power to the then opposition APC.

    He insisted that Nigerians will only believe his “free and fair elections’ promise if the election is conducted in an atmosphere devoid of intimidation, harassment, violence and rigging by the APC, INEC and security agencies.”

  • Southern Youth Leaders decries PDP’s call for anarchy, lauds Army role in election

    The Southern Youth Leaders Forum, has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the former deputy spokesman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Timi Frank, for alleged unguarded statements and threat to the peaceful conclusions of the ongoing elections.

    The group in a statement by its Spokesman, Comrade Odeyemi Oladimeji, in Lagos on Monday, said Frank’s statements were inflammatory and capable of cursing national unrest.

    “The call that the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, be declared President, when collation is ongoing and other inflammatory comments by Timi Frank are capable of causing a breakdown of the law and order in the country,” he said.

    “Nigeria has a president who believes in the doctrine of peaceful co-existence of all individuals irrespective of political affiliation,” he said.

    ‘’We wish to advise Timi Frank and his sponsors that Nigerians have spoken through the ballot and we would not allow any desperate individual or party, to resort to any act capable of igniting crisis in the country irrespective their status,” he stated.

    Read Also:Akinremi wins APC sole Rep ticket in Ibadan

     

    Comrade Odeyemi urged security agencies to immediately arrest and prosecute Frank .

    He also urged INEC to ignore the call to illegally declare Atiku Abubakar as winner of the election and concentrate on their duties rather than waste their energy on frivolities being demanded by Frank.

    The group further said that no amount of blackmail, character assassination and propaganda would stop the support of Nigerians for President Buhari.

    The group specially commended the Nigerian military for its role in maintaining law and order during the election. It said the Army have lived up to its promise to Nigerians, by ensuring that its personel were professional in their intervention during the polls.

  • Fake News: CSOs want Timi Frank arrested, prosecuted

    The Coalition of Civil Society Groups against Terrorism in Nigeria, has described the conduct of the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Timi Frank, as a threat to national security, which must be immediately checkmated by the Federal government.
    The group said, it is becoming worried about the  criminal penchant of Timi Frank, for spreading falsehood, inciting and insidious statements especially at this crucial electioneering period in the country.
    The group at a media briefing  today by its Convener ,  Comrade Odeyemi Oladimeji, said it was reacting to a recent statement credited to Frank, where he alleged that  Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai and some top officials of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, over the weekend held a secret meeting with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) where plans to rigged the forthcoming Presidential election were purportedly hatched.

    Read Also:I am the author of restructuring – Atiku

    The group said it is completely taken aback, by the insidious statement credited to Timi Frank, in an attempt to score cheap political points and throw caution to the wind.
    “Even though we understand desperation of Timi Frank, we cannot but also remind him, that we all have a binding duty to uphold the ethos of fairness, equity and justice, any departure from this acceptable standard is disingenuous, mischievous and wicked”!  We implore the general public to ignore characters like Timi Frank, whose conducts, are capable of causing confusion and apprehension  at this critical period when the 2019 election is fast approaching.”
    “It is also our hope, that the Federal government will take a drastic step, in ordering the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr Timi Frank and his sponsors , who major preoccupation at this period is the dissemination of fake news, aimed at destabilizaling the country and casting aspersions on the integrity of our security agencies, particularly the leadership of the Nigerian Army and our indefatigable COAS,  who have been making tremendous sacrifices to protect our nation’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and democracy. Our Armed Forces especially the Nigerian Army and it’s leadership must be insulated from the antics and activities of some unpatriotic individuals and their collaborators both local and foreign.

  • Saraki had no business with Daura, sacked DSS chief,

    A former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank has dismissed insinuations that the sacked Director General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura was sacked for working for Senate President, Bukola Saraki and asked Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo to order full investigations into the invasion of the National Assembly.

    Frank said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday that National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomohle, his deputy Niyi Adebayo, the Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari and the sacked DG of SSS, Lawal Daura should be held responsible for the deployment of armed SSS personnel that laid siege at National Assembly.

    He said that at no time did the President of the Senate had anything in common with the former DG of SSS apart from official duty, adding that both the National Chairman of APC and the sacked DG SSS with other known cabals in the presidency actually planned the siege on the National Assembly.

    Read Also: Saraki should resign as a matter of honour, says Sagay

    He said “Information at our disposal revealed that as at Thursday 2nd August 2018, National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, his deputy Niyi Adebayo, the Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari and the sacked DG of SSS, Lawal Daura, summoned the clerk of National Assembly, Sanni Omoloro who was approved and scheduled to commence his annual vacation on 3rd August 2018 outside the country, but was instructed that the presidency has cancelled his earlier approved vacation as he will be needed to be in Senate on Tuesday to swear in a new leadership of the Senate.

    “Sources close to the Clerk of National Assembly privy to his travel itinerary also revealed to us that the Clerk, based on the instruction given to him by those mentioned above, had no choice than to cancel his planned vacation.

    “With this available information, I hereby call on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo if he is genuinely committed to get to the bottom of the siege at the National Assembly to consider above information given.”

  • PDP to Buhari: Respond to issues raised by APC’s member

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly respond to issues raised by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Timi Frank.

    Frank had in a letter to the President accused the administration of humongous corruption, intimidation of citizens, erosion of freedom, constitutional breaches and persecution of citizens under the guise of the fight against corruption.

    A statement issued by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the allegations made by Frank were too weighty for President Buhari to ignore.

    The party described Frank’s action as patriotic, bold, courageous and in the interest of the nation.

    The statement said: “We therefore urge other democrats and public-spirited persons in the APC to speak out for our nation and take the bold step of withdrawing from the APC and rallying with other well-meaning Nigerians in the repositioned PDP.

    “We implore them to come and join hands with other democrats, who are daily working on the modality to rescue the soul of our nation from the stranglehold of the APC and the Buhari Presidency.

    “Finally, the PDP cautions the APC to stop the unwarranted attack against Timi Frank and others who boldly state the truth, particularly as the current tide of our nation requires the support of patriots, who will rise above partisan sentiments.”

  • ‘Governors asking Buhari to re-contest are insensitive’

    ‘Governors asking Buhari to re-contest are insensitive’

    A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank has said the seven governors who visited President Muhammadu Buhari asking him to seek reelection for a second term at a time when the nation was supposed to be mourning the mass killing of Nigerians across the country were insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.
    Frank said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the action of the governors who were supposed to be visiting Benue and Taraba states on a condolence visit was condemnable, adding that a period of mourning was not the appropriate time to play politics.
    Seven APC governors,  including Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Abubakar Bello of Niger, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe and Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa states on Friday visited the President asking him to contest a second term in office.
    Comrade Frank said instead of the governors to pay a condolences visit on their colleague in Benue and tell the President to institute a programme that will take care of the families of the victims, “they chose to visit the Aso Rock Villa and made such demand for their selfish reasons.”
    He said that some of the governors visited the President because their political future depend solely on his continuity.
    While urging politicians to play politics with human face, Frank said that “instead of these governors to advise Mr. President on how to put an end to wanton killings going on across the country, fuel queues, economic hardship and the rest, they chose to be selfish.”
    “Is Benue governor not an APC members? Is Benue state where 72 people were killed not part of Nigeria? Our politicians should learn to the plights of citizens when needed and not only when their votes are needed.”
    The APC chieftain warned President Muhammadu Buhari to be carefull of such people he described as ‘parasitic politicians’ by ensuring that he listen to himself on whether to seek re-election or not ahead of 2019 general elections.
    “The President should recalled that the impunity and arrogance being display by APC leaders like El-Rufai and others by telling Nigerians that they have no apology, angered Nigerians against the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
    “While Jonathan has since lost power, many of those making such statements have also abandoned him. Mr. President should therefore bear in mind that these governors are not persuading him to run not because they love him but for their selfish interest, ” Frank stated.