Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has alleged a plot by security agencies to doctor audio and visual recordings purportedly linked to former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, in a bid to tarnish his image and justify his continued detention.

Frank, in a statement on Friday, claimed that El-Rufai has been subjected to “intense surveillance” while in custody and alleged that conversations involving the former governor, his lawyers and family members were being secretly recorded.

According to him, the alleged recordings were being manipulated through artificial intelligence technology to incriminate the former governor.

“Nasir El-Rufai has been subjected to intense surveillance even in detention,” Frank alleged.

“The ICPC, where he is being held, has collaborated with the DSS to bug his room. They have countless hours of voice and visual recordings of his conversations, including those with his lawyers and family members,” he said.

Frank further claimed that operatives were allegedly reviewing the recordings “to select those that can best be doctored.”

“The plan is to use AI to distort some of these recordings to frame El-Rufai. Their plan is to then leak some of these doctored recordings to the press,” he alleged.

Describing the development as part of a broader agenda against the former governor, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, said the alleged plot was aimed at damaging El-Rufai’s reputation and prolonging his detention.

“It is all a part of the agenda to destroy El-Rufai, tarnish his reputation and keep him in custody,” Frank stated.

From Adeko Ukpa

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 High Court, Abuja, describing them as excessively stringent and capable of eroding public confidence in the judiciary.

Frank, in a statement on Thursday, alleged that the bail terms imposed by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court sitting in Apo were unprecedented and politically motivated.

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.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, alleged that the Presidency was influencing the matter, insisting that several former public office holders facing corruption allegations involving huge sums had secured bail on less stringent conditions.

Frank cited former governors Ifeanyi Okowa and Yahaya Bello as examples of defendants who, according to him, were granted more favourable bail terms despite the scale of allegations against them.

He expressed concern that politics was increasingly influencing the nation’s justice system and warned against actions capable of undermining the independence of the judiciary.

The activist further urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the bail conditions in order 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.

Frank also called on the international community to pay attention to the matter, warning that perceived compromise of the rule of law could negatively affect investor confidence in the country.

He maintained that the offences against Ayeni were bailable and noted that Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution presumes every defendant innocent until proven guilty.

According to him, Ayeni had indicated readiness to face trial and should therefore be allowed adequate opportunity to prepare his defence while on bail.

From Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has congratulated Senegal’s newly elected Speaker Ousmane Sonko, while accusing President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of betraying the trust of the Senegalese people and abandoning the reform ideals that brought his administration to power.

Frank, in a statement on Wednesday, said the growing political crisis in Senegal reflects what he described as a painful betrayal of the revolutionary vision championed by former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the PASTEF movement.

According to him, millions of Senegalese youths who supported the movement in pursuit of accountability, sovereignty and institutional reforms are now disillusioned by what they see as a gradual return to the old political order.

Frank noted that Sonko played the central role in reshaping Senegal’s political landscape long before President Faye emerged on the national stage, describing the Prime Minister as the symbol of resistance against the former administration of ex-President Macky Sall.

The international affairs advisor said Sonko inspired a generation of young Senegalese demanding political and economic independence, institutional reforms and freedom from foreign influence.

The former APC spokesman recalled that after Sonko’s strong performance in the 2019 presidential election, he became the country’s most formidable opposition figure, leading to what he described as years of political persecution, controversial arrests and legal battles aimed at preventing him from becoming president.

Frank argued that despite imprisonment and eventual disqualification from contesting the 2024 presidential election, Sonko remained committed to the movement and mobilised supporters from detention to back Faye as the candidate of continuity for the PASTEF vision.

“Without Sonko’s sacrifices, political structure, popularity and influence among Senegalese youths, Bassirou Diomaye Faye would almost certainly never have become president,” Frank stated.

He added that even President Faye publicly acknowledged Sonko’s role during his inauguration by crediting him for the movement’s victory and sacrifices.

Frank, however, alleged that shortly after assuming office, the Faye administration began deviating from the ideals that inspired the movement, particularly through the alleged return of individuals associated with the former Macky Sall administration into positions of influence.

He further accused President Faye of allegedly taking Senegal back under French influence contrary to the aspirations of the reform movement.

“The fight between President Faye and PM Sonko is mainly because President Faye has betrayed the trust reposed in him by the Senegalese people by taking Senegal back to the control of France,” Frank alleged.

He said many supporters of Sonko now view the development as a betrayal of the revolution they fought for and fear that the political establishment the movement sought to dismantle is quietly regaining influence.

Frank maintained that Sonko remains the authentic face of the struggle for a new Senegal built on economic independence, youth empowerment, institutional reforms and African self-determination.

He urged Senegalese citizens to remain steadfast and continue supporting Sonko’s leadership and long-term vision for the country.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, also advised Sonko to begin building broader international alliances, particularly with the United States and other global partners willing to support democratic development and economic growth without undermining Senegal’s sovereignty.

According to Frank, Senegal stands at a critical crossroads between genuine reform and a return to entrenched political structures.

He warned that history would judge whether President Faye upheld the revolutionary ideals that brought him to power or aligned himself with the establishment the Senegalese people voted to reject.