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In an extremely rare case of defense other than President Tinubu, the former Southeast Spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dr. Josef Onoh, has responded to the allegations and the call for sack of the FCT minister Nyesom Wike by various politicians and individuals and most recently by Comrade Timi Frank, Onoh stated that the allegations were baseless and inflammatory by Comrade Timi Frank against the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike.
Onoh pointed out that these claims, are rooted in speculation and devoid of concrete evidence, and an attempt to tarnish the minister’s reputation and undermine his transformative efforts in the FCT.
Backing his statement with reference to Nigerian legal and constitutional frameworks, Onoh said that Wike’s actions are lawful, transparent, and in the best interest of the FCT’s development.
Onoh in response to Allegations of Illegal Land Allocation by Wike, said they lack evidence and Legal Basis and that
Timi Frank’s claims, were amplified by references to unverified reports from People’s Gazette and Senator Ireti Kingibe, who asserted that Wike had engaged in illegal land allocations to family members and associates.
Onoh stated that these allegations remain unsubstantiated, as no credible evidence has been presented to the public or relevant authorities.
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Referencing The Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended) onoh said, under Section 36(1) guarantees the right to a fair hearing, which includes the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Frank’s failure to provide documentary proof, as challenged by Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, renders these accusations mere hearsay.
The Land Use Act of 1978, which governs land administration in Nigeria, vests the authority to allocate land in the FCT in the FCT Minister as the custodian of all land in the territory (Section 1(3). Wike’s actions, as he has stated, are executed within the legal framework of the Abuja Master Plan, ensuring that allocations align with urban planning and development objectives.
Having served as the first Executive Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority I’m highly knowledgeable of the demands and operations of such office and for instance, Wike has clarified that large allocations, such as those alleged, are earmarked for infrastructural expansion and affordable housing schemes, not personal enrichment.
Also Frank’s accusation that Wike’s actions constitute a “disregard for the rule of law” is a misrepresentation of the minister’s constitutional mandate.
Under Section 302 of the 1999 Constitution, the FCT Minister exercises delegated authority from the President to administer the Federal Capital Territory, including land allocation and revocation.
Unfortunately, Frank was more desperate to criticize rather than being informed hence he failed to realise that Wike’s authority includes the discretion to revoke land titles that violate the Abuja Master Plan or are held without proper documentation, as seen in his numerous efforts to address illegal land occupations, such as the case with the University of Abuja’s disputed 11,000 hectares.
Even the revocation of land from an Embassy, as alleged by Frank, if true, would fall within Wike’s powers under the Land Use Act, provided due process was followed, such as issuing notices and providing alternative allocations where necessary.
Without specific evidence of illegality, such actions cannot be deemed as impunity.
Moreover, Wike’s public defense that no land has been allocated to his relatives, including his sons, underscores his adherence to legal processes as records of all allocations are available for scrutiny which Frank ought to have explored before rushing to make inflammatory statements, especially Frank’s assertion that Wike’s 95-year-old father and children, who “have never worked,” acquired prime lands is a speculative attack lacking substantiation.
Wike has categorically denied allocating land to his sons, Joaquin and Jordan, or any relatives, questioning the plausibility of such vast allocations in prime areas like Maitama and Asokoro.
He has further argued that, even if his children applied for land, they are Nigerian citizens entitled to equal treatment under the law, as guaranteed by Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on status or association.
The Code of Conduct for Public Officers (Fifth Schedule, Part 1, 1999 Constitution) prohibits public officials from engaging in conflicts of interest, such as using their office for personal gain.
However, Timi Frank has failed to present any evidence to show that Wike personally benefited from or directed allocations to his family.
Allegations linking companies like JOAQ Farms and Estates Ltd. or Jordan Farms and Estates Ltd. to his sons remain unproven, and Wike has dismissed them as politically motivated propaganda as well.
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I would not have graced Timi Frank with a response had he not dragged President Bola Tinubu in his baseless statement by
criticizing the President in what he termed Tinubu’s “silence” which is totally misleading, as the President has already ordered an investigation into similar allegations involving Wike’s son Joaquin, demonstrating a commitment to accountability.
This probe, coordinated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, indicates that the administration is not complicit but is actively addressing the claims.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) operate independently under the EFCC Act (2004) and ICPC Act (2000), and their investigations are not contingent on public outcry but on credible evidence, which Frank has failed to provide.
The National Assembly’s oversight role, as noted by Frank, is indeed critical, but it’s on record that Senator Kingibe’s allegations have been challenged for their lack of specificity and her failure to present evidence to anti-corruption agencies or the public.
Hence, it’s safe to assume that the National Assembly’s silence may reflect a lack of actionable evidence rather than complicity, as oversight requires verified information to proceed.
And neither Senator Kingibe nor Timi Frank has provided such other than making a public spectacle of their emotions over common sense most especially Frank’s portrayal of Wike as a corrupt official hiding behind “flashy projects,” but in the contrary, the Wike’s tenure has been marked by significant infrastructural advancements in the FCT.
Projects such as the construction of access roads, solar street lighting, and urban renewal initiatives in areas like Ushafa demonstrate Wike’s commitment to the public good.
These efforts align with the FCT’s development objectives and have been praised by various groups and individuals.
Unfortunately, Frank’s comparison to former Minister Betta Edu is inapt, as Edu’s case involved specific financial mismanagement allegations with documented evidence, whereas the claims against Wike remain speculative.
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The minister’s actions in revoking illegally acquired lands and enforcing the Abuja Master Plan are not only lawful but necessary to restore order and protect the FCT’s development framework.
I faced such negative attacks during my tenure as the Executive Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority which unfortunately Timi Frank has no experience to understand the rigorous challenges of such an office which he clearly demonstrated by his reckless statements which for his information risk violating Section 391 of the Penal Code Act, which criminalizes defamation when false statements are made to harm a person’s reputation.
By failing to substantiate his claims with evidence, Frank exposes himself to legal liability. Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, has rightly challenged accusers like Senator Kingibe to present their evidence to anti-corruption agencies or the public, a call that applies equally to Timi Frank.
Finally, Comrade Timi Frank’s reckless statements are a politically motivated aimed at discrediting Nyesom Wike, whose reforms have disrupted entrenched interests in the FCT.
Under the Land Use Act and the 1999 Constitution, Wike’s actions as FCT Minister are lawful and within his authority. The absence of credible evidence, coupled with the minister’s transparent defense and President Tinubu’s proactive investigation, refutes claims of impunity or corruption.
I dare Timi Frank to present his evidence to the EFCC, ICPC, or the courts, as required by law, rather than resorting to media sensationalism. Minister Wike’s focus on transforming the FCT into a model capital territory should be supported, not undermined by baseless accusations.
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