Timi Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has faulted the bail conditions granted to Nigerian businessman Tunde Ayeni by the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
In a statement on Thursday, Frank described the bail conditions as excessively stringent and capable of eroding 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 politically motivated, not unconnected to unseen hands of the ‘presidency.’
He claimed that one of the conditions required a surety to provide a bank guarantee of N15 billion, the amount involved in the charge before the court, with an undertaking that the sum would be forfeited to the Federal Government if the defendant absconded.
According to him, such conditions were unusual for bailable offences and compared unfavourably with bail terms granted to other high-profile defendants facing corruption-related charges.
“It is surprising to hear of such a condition, as it appears highly unusual and capable of bringing shame to our judicial process,” Frank said.
He further urged the National Judicial Council, NJC, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the bail conditions to protect public trust in the judicial process.
“The Nigerian criminal justice system must resist the temptation to equate allegations with guilt. Courts are constitutionally obligated to remain the final guardians of liberty, not silent collaborators in pre-conviction punishment,” he stated.
