Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, has criticised the bail conditions granted to Nigerian businessman Tunde Ayeni by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Timi Frank described the conditions as excessively harsh and capable of undermining public confidence in the judiciary.
He alleged that the bail terms imposed by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court sitting in Apo were unprecedented and possibly influenced by unseen forces within the presidency.
According to Frank, one of the bail conditions required a surety to provide a N15 billion bank guarantee — the same amount involved in the charge — alongside an undertaking that the money would be forfeited to the Federal Government should the defendant fail to appear in court.
Timi Frank argued that such conditions were unusual for offences considered bailable and compared them unfavourably with bail terms granted to other prominent defendants facing corruption-related charges.
“It is shocking to hear of such a condition, as it appears highly unusual and capable of bringing embarrassment to our judicial system,” he said.
He also called on the National Judicial Council, NJC, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the bail conditions in order to preserve public trust in the justice system.
“The Nigerian criminal justice system must avoid treating allegations as proof of guilt. Courts are constitutionally expected to remain protectors of liberty, not partners in pre-conviction punishment,” Frank stated.
Backstory…
Timi Frank, a former APC spokesperson, reacted after reports emerged that a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja granted bail to businessman Tunde Ayeni under what he described as unusually strict conditions.
The bail terms reportedly included a very high financial guarantee, which Frank argued was excessive compared to standard bail conditions in similar high-profile cases. This sparked his criticism, where he suggested that the decision might not have been entirely straightforward and hinted at possible external influence behind the ruling.
His comments come amid ongoing public debate about fairness in Nigeria’s justice system, especially in how bail conditions are set for individuals facing serious financial or corruption-related allegations. Frank has since called for closer scrutiny by judicial authorities to ensure transparency and consistency in court decisions.
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