Wike: Onoh faults documents paraded by Timi Frank, threatens imprisonment

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 […]

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 uncertified 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.