Political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has criticised the bail conditions granted to businessman Tunde Ayeni by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, describing them as excessively harsh and potentially damaging to public confidence in the judiciary.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Frank alleged that the bail conditions imposed by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court sitting in Apo were unprecedented, excessive, and politically motivated.

According to him, 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 should the defendant abscond.
Frank argued that such conditions were unusual for offences considered bailable under Nigerian law and compared them unfavourably with bail terms granted to other high-profile defendants facing corruption-related charges.
“It is shocking to hear of such a condition, as it appears highly unusual and capable of bringing disrepute to our judicial process,” he stated.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East further alleged that the Presidency was influencing the matter, insisting that several former public office holders accused of corruption involving far larger sums had secured bail on less stringent terms.
Frank cited former governors Ifeanyi Okowa and Yahaya Bello as examples of defendants who, according to him, received more favourable bail conditions despite the magnitude of allegations against them.
He expressed concern over what he described as the growing politicisation of the nation’s justice system and warned against actions capable of eroding judicial independence and public trust.

The activist also called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the bail conditions in order to preserve confidence in the integrity of the judiciary.
“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,” Frank said.
He further urged the international community to closely monitor the situation, warning that any perception of compromise in the rule of law could negatively affect investor confidence and Nigeria’s democratic image.

Frank maintained that the offences against Ayeni were bailable and stressed that Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution presumes every defendant innocent until proven guilty.
According to him, Ayeni had already demonstrated willingness to face trial and should therefore be granted adequate opportunity to prepare his defence while enjoying his constitutional right to bail.