TIMI FRANK CALLS THE BLUFF OF THE VP & LAWYERS. INSISTING THE VP HAS A CASE TO ANSWER

Comrade Timi Frank 

The saga between Vice-president of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo & one of his accusers, former Deputy Publicity Secretary of the APC, Comrade Timi Frank has not ended like many had thought it would happen. After the apology and retraction from the Vanguard which had earlier carried the accusations by Timi Frank that the VP had something to do with N90b which was despatched in very funny circumstances, many had thought Timi Frank would have gone scared to hide in his anonymous cocoon.

But alas no, that hasn't been the case. It seems like the threat of a robust litigation from the chambers of Femi Falana, SAN on behalf of the pastor turned politician VP of the country now hanging on his head has even given him more impetus, as he has now gone out more on the mountain top to shout out for all who cares to hear that the vice president should rather leave Vanguard alone and face him squarely to sue him instead.

Hear what Timi has to say,  N90bn scandal: Stop threatening media Houses, sue me, Frank tells Osinbajo
...Urges DSS, EFCC, others to investigate his allegation
...Urges VP to resign.

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has challenged Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to sue him instead of threatening Media Houses over his latest revelation of N90 billion used for the last general elections.

Frank said he was anxiously waiting to receive court summons from the Vice President, assuring that such move will afford Nigerians and the international community opportunity to hear more about the activities of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor (Osinbajo).

He also asked Osinbajo to resign  as VP, to give room for thorough investigation and unbiased prosecution in court, saying "this is important so as not to influence the judiciary as well as use public funds to pursue the case as a sitting Vice President."

The political activist had revealed how the VP allegedly collected about N90 billion from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to fund the last presidential election.

Responding through a statement to a letter Osinbajo sent through his lawyer, Femi Falana to Vanguard Newspapers for a retraction, Frank said he is rather expecting the VP to sue him instead of threatening the media house for keeping the general public informed.

"I understand Prof. Osinbajo, through Femi Falana has written Vanguard Newspaper, demanding for a retraction. It is a move to silence the media and those of us speaking for Nigerians. I challenge Osinbajo to sue me and not Vanguard Newspaper. I'm prepared to meet him in court whenever he is ready to do so.

"The VP should know that I can not be intimidated by his threat. We shall meet in court
"The VP is trying to intimidate everyone including the media but he has forgotten how he accused others like former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Senate President Bukola Saraki without any evidence," Frank stated.
While urging Vanguard and other newspapers to stand firm, Frank called on the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Director of the State Security Service (DSS), Independent Corrupt Practices Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate his claims objectively.

"Osinbajo is trying to use his position as Vice President to intimidate me and especially the Vanguard Newspaper but he won't succeed.

"I have also spoken with Femi Falana, the VP's lawyer who has confirmed that he has a letter from the Vice President for me but I'm yet to receive the letter," he stated.

Frank also challenged the EFCC to quickly release the reports of its earlier investigation of the activities of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) under the current leadership.

Signed:
Comrade Timi Frank
Political activist
Abuja.

VANGUARD NEWSPAPER DOES QUICK RETRACTION & APOLOGIZE AS FEAR OF ROBUSTS LITIGATION & DAMAGE PAYMENT LOOMS

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, VP, Nigeria 

In order not to fall victim to the threat of a very robust litigation against them for publishing what is tantamount to falsehood, one of Nigeria's biggest newspaper brand - Vanguard has done the most honorable thing possible, by issuing with immediate effect a retraction of one of their stories that had painted the current Vice-president of Nigeria, his excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in very bad light. The retraction also came with unreserved, public apology too.

See the retraction and apology here-

*RETRACTION:*
*APOLOGY TO VP YEMI OSINBAJO*
*ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 7:25 PM* *IN NEWS BY VICTOR OGUNYINKA*

*On our website publication of  Monday, September 23, 2019, we published a story titled “N90 Bn FIRS Election* *Fund: Osinbajo’s problem, not 2023 politics.” We have since discovered that the story lacks factual substance and we hereby retract it in its entirety.*

*We tender our profound apology to Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on whom the story touches directly the All Progressives Congress, A.P.C.* *and the FIRS for any inconvenience or embarrassment the publication has occasioned them.*

*We hold Professor Osinbajo, S.A.N. in the highest esteem.*

*VICTOR OGUNYINKA*

© 2019 Vanguard Media Limited, NIGERIA.

The story as seen above had pointed fingers at the VP, the APC which is the VP's party & a Government institution - The FIRS, manned by the highly resourceful, Babatunde Fowler. One of the sponsors of the highly damaging story is alleged to be a former chieftain of the APC, Mr. Timi Frank who years back had been removed from the ruling party and had since then become a turncoat and a vociferous enemy of party and those now in charge of it.

Prior to the retraction, the solicitors to the VP, led by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana had sent a strongly worded warning to the newspaper to do an immediate retraction and tender an unreserved public apology, or be ready to feel the full weight of the law which could result to them paying a very hefty fine.

The VP a legal luminary himself, who is also known to be pastor had confidently said he was ready to waive his immunity to allow for unfettered investigation into the matter, which had grossly insinuated that he had received slush money prior to the 2015 election. In a Twitter text that was authored in its entirety by him, he had said -

"In the past few days, a spate of reckless and malicious falsehoods have been peddled in the media against me by a group of malicious individuals.

“The defamatory and misleading assertions invented by this clique had mostly been making the social media rounds anonymously.

“I have today instructed the commencement of legal action against two individuals, one Timi Frank and another Katch Ononuju, who have put their names to these odious falsehoods.

“I will waive my constitutional immunity to enable the most robust adjudication of these claims of libel and malicious falsehood.

It was after the above that the robust letter from the chambers of Mr. Femi Falana, award winning legal luminary came out. Full text of which is below-

September 24, 2019

Mr. Eze Anaba,
The Editor,
Vanguard Newspaper,
Apapa, Lagos.

Re: N90 bn FIRS election fund, Osinbajo's problem, not 2023 politics-Frank

We are solicitors to Professor Yemi Osinbanjo SAN, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) on whose behalf and instructions we write this letter.

Our client’s attention has been drawn to your highly libelous story entitled “N90 bn FIRS election fund, Osinbanjo’s problem, not 2023 politics-Frank” recklessly published in the Vanguard newspaper edition of September 23, 2019.

In the story credited to one Comrade Timi Frank, your newspaper informed your large readership that our client’s travail “has nothing to  do with 2023 but alleged mismanagement of about N90 Billion Naira (sic) released by the Federal Inland Revenue Inland Service (FIRS) to prosecute the last general elections in favour of the APC”.

The false contextual background and specific untrue and defamatory statement include the following:

"The presidency discovered how Osinbajo allegedly mismanaged N90billion from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

When confronted by the presidency, he confirmed to General Buhari that he indeed allegedly took N90billion from FIRS but it was used for the 2019 presidential election campaign in strategic states of the South-west.

Gen Buhari asked for a breakdown of how the money was spent and he said he gave N11 billion to Lagos state APC leader but when the said national leader and one former APC chairman were invited for an explanation, it was confirmed that Osinbajo gave only N5billion and not N11billion to Lagos state.

'The cabal is asking to know how come they beat PDP in the South-west with less than 60,000 votes if the money was actually spent in the strategic states of the South-west as allegedly claimed.'

The activist insisted that if the information is true, Osinbajo must resign his position as Vice President, adding that such is akin to the characteristics of ‘yahoo boys."

It is clear that the entire publication was a vicious, wicked and reckless ploy to impugn the reputation of our client and lower him in the estimation of right thinking members of the public. Without any scintilla of evidence you deliberately gave the dubious impression that our client colluded with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to divert public funds to the tune of N90 billion to prosecute the 2019 general elections in the South west region.

In view of the foregoing we have our client’s firm instructions to request for the immediate retraction of the offensive and derogatory publication coupled with apology prominently published in your newspaper.

Take notice that if we do not receive your formal retraction and apology within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter, we shall proceed with our client’s instructions to seek legal remedies including aggravated damages in the appropriate High Court.

Yours Sincerely,

FEMI FALANA, SAN

So with the first part now done, with the apology and retraction done by Vanguard, would the duo of Timi Frank & Katch Ononuju who are said to be the authors and sponsors of the blatant falsehood, now tow the honorable path too and admit they had lied with extreme vigor against the VP? 

#COZAGATE AND THE REAL BATTLE BEGINS. POLICE INVITE BUSOLA & TIMI DAKOLO OVER FALSEHOOD AND SUNDRY ISSUES

After what had seemed like a lull in the issue that had raised so much dust when Busola Dakolo went public alleging that many years back she was raped by the then much younger Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of COZA in Ilorin, Kwara State. The real battle royale seem to have commenced forthwith.

The dust raised by the allegations raised by Busola then and supported by her husband Timi Dakolo had shaken the nation. With many taking sides either for or against. After the hoopla raised by Busola's allegations, another lady had come forward also too, tagged victim X, who had also claimed that she too was molested by Pastor Biodun whilst working for the church.

But in his defense initially after the allegations, the man of God had then denied ever ever raping before, either before as an ordinary person or after he had been cloaked as a pastor and his wife had also come out in the defense of her doting husband. To also allow for investigations, he had also decided to step down from his position as the pastor of the growing church which he founded in 1999 to allow for non interference in the investigation of the allegations against him.

Now after some form of quiet of over a week, the Police have now visited the couple to serve them a letter for them to report to them for investigations. In the letter sent, it is alleged against the couple, who have 3 kids-"Falsehood, Criminal Conspiracy and Threat to Life".

If care is not taken, the table might have turned against the couple now, as this is time they need to be at their strongest and as one. They were once on the ascendancy as at when the allegations first came out, now the opposition (the accused) are now on the offensive, making true that veiled allegations that the pastor had made then in his initial denial, where he had alleged that it was some sort of conspiracy & blackmail against himself. 

SENATE PRESIDENT DR BUKOLA SARAKI RESPONDS SARCASTICALLY TO ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU'S ASSERTION ABOUT WHY HE DEFECTED FROM THE APC TO THE PDP.

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki 

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

This battle that has begun is most definitely going to be brutal, reason for that being that when elephants battle, especially giant ones like these ones, it is the innocent grass underfoot that would feel the massive weight. And already, the grass is already feeling it and feeling it real damn good. The defection of the Senate President from his former party the APC, back to his old party the PDP is already opening up what were supposed to have remained hidden cans of worms. From the little engagements so far between the juggernauts on both sides, supposed exposes of monumental proportions are suddenly bobbling out, which are already  causing unprecedented ripples.

Find below the response of Dr. BUKOLA SARAKI to the statement by The Asiwaju as to why he had to defect. It is rather very ironic though, that in trying to pooh-pooh the Asiwaju's assertion about his inordinate ambition, the Senate President conveniently forgot a statement he had made on December 18, 2014.

You are peddling falsehood, blinded by inordinate presidential ambition, Saraki replies Tinubu.

Press Release
August 20, 2018

The Tinubu Rhetoric - My Response, By Saraki

I have always restrained from joining issues in the media with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and this is based on my respect for him. However, I will not allow him to create a wrong, false and mischievous impression about the reasons for my decision to exit the All Progressives Congress (APC) and present his prejudices as facts for public consumption.

I have been consistent in my complaints to all leaders of the APC, including Tinubu, that a situation where the National Assembly is not constructively engaged or carried along in key policy decisions, particularly those that will eventually require legislative approval, is not in the best interest of the nation. No genuine leader of the legislature will be comfortable that the Presidency will simply write a terse letter to the National Assembly on key issues which the federal legislature is expected to later deliberate upon and give its approval. The Buhari administration consistently treat the legislature with contempt and act as if the law making body should be an appendage of the Executive. To me, that is unacceptable.

In the same way, I find it very objectionable that many stakeholders who worked strenuously to get the administration into office have now been excluded in the government and not consulted on key decisions as necessary and expected. In fact, some of them are treated as pariah. A party which ignores justice, equity and inclusion as basic pre-condition for peace, unity and stability cannot sustain its membership and leadership.

Let me redirect the attention of the former Governor of Lagos State to the aspect of my July 31, 2018, statement announcing my exit from APC in which I emphasized that the decision "has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist".

In that statement, I further noted that those APC elements "have done everything to ensure that the basic rules of party administration, which should promote harmonious relations among the various elements within the party were blatantly disregarded. All governance principles which were required for a healthy functioning of the party and the government were deliberately violated or undermined. And all entreaties for justice, equity and fairness as basic precondition for peace and unity, not only within the party, but also the country at large, were simply ignored, or employed as additional pretext for further exclusion. The experience of my people and associates in the past three years is that they have suffered alienation and have been treated as outsiders in their own party. Thus, many have become disaffected and disenchanted. At the same time, opportunities to seek redress and correct these anomalies were deliberately blocked as a government-within-a-government had formed an impregnable wall and left in the cold, everyone else who was not recognized as “one of us”. This is why my people, like all self-respecting people would do, decided to seek accommodation elsewhere".

Tinubu himself will recall that during the various meetings he had with me at the time he was pursuing reconciliation within the party, I raised all the above issues. I can also vividly recall that he himself always expressed his displeasure with the style of the government and also mentioned that he had equally suffered disrespect from the same government which we all worked to put in office. I also made the point that whatever travails I have gone through in the last three years belong to the past and will definitely not shape my decisions now and in the future.

However, during those meetings, the point of disagreement between me and him is that while I express my worry that there is nothing on ground to assure me that the administrative style and attitude would change in the next four years in a manner that will enable us deliver the positive changes we promised to our people, he (Tinubu) expressed a strong opinion that he would rather 'support a Buhari on the hospital stretcher' to get a second term because in 2023, power will shift to the South-west. This Tinubu viewpoint was not only expressed to me but to several of my colleagues. So much for acting in national interest.

It is clear that while my own decision is based on protecting collective, national interest, Tinubu will rather live with the identified inadequacies in the government for the sake of fulfilling and preserving his presidential ambition in 2023. This new position of Tinubu has only demonstrated inconsistency, particularly when one reviews his antecedent over the years.

Again, let me reiterate my position that my uncertain and complex relationship with Tinubu has been continually defined by the event of 2014 when myself and other leaders of the APC opposed the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement about to be foisted on the APC for the 2015 polls. It should be noted that he has not forgotten the fact that I took the bull by the horns and told him that in the interest of the country, he should accept the need for the party to present a balanced ticket for the 2015 General Elections in terms of religion and geo-political zones. Since that time he has been very active, plotting at every point to undermine me, within and outside the National Assembly.

It is a surprise to me that Asiwaju Tinubu is still peddling the falsehood about the fact that my defection is about automatic ticket and sharing of resources. Members of the public will recall that when the issue of my decision to quit APC came to the fore and many APC leaders were holding meetings with me, a newspaper owned by the same Tinubu published a false report about the promise of automatic ticket, oil block and other benefits. I immediately rebutted their claims and categorically stated that I never discussed any such personal and pecuniary benefits with anybody. My challenge that anybody who has contrary facts should come forward with them still remains open.

It should be known that Democracy is a system which allows people to freely make their choice. It is my choice that I have decided to join others to present a viable alternative platform for Nigerians in the coming elections. Tinubu and leaders of the APC had better respect this decision or lawfully deal with it. As for me, Allah gives power to whom He wishes. Human beings can only aspire and strive to fulfill their aspirations.

Signed

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON
President of the Senate

OONI'S PALACE DEBUNK MARRIAGE TALE AS TALE BY MOONLIGHT!

his imperial majesty 

Tope Adesegun

The palace of the most revered King from Africa, that's the Palace of the Ooni Adimula of the world, his imperial majesty, Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II, has come out to debunk in very strong terms the purported upcoming wedding of the season of the bachelor monarch, who incidentally is being counted as one of the most eligible bachelors in Africa right now, after his 2 former marriages had hit the rock. One of the marriages was when he was still a young prince, while the more recent one was to the famous Olori Wuraola Zainab Otiti-Obanor.

The subject matter of the speculation or marriage tale is none other than an outstandingingly gorgeous beauty and brains (highly cerebral) by name Temitope Adesegun, who is the Co-convener of Hopes Alive Initiative. She used to be the personal assistant to the former SSG of Lagos State at a time. The well schooled lady, went to Harvard, Oxford, Instead, Cambridge after she had 1st graduated from the University of Lagos many years back.

How those who came up with the supposed tales by moonlight got their story of the impending wedding and subsequent marriage we do not know, but a close aide and an in-law of the revered monarch, in the person of Prince Jide Fadairo, who is married to one of the lovely sisters of the king and who should be in the know, was the one that debunked the tale, which had already gained much traction.

People, in fact the whole world are very eager to know who the king is going to marry again and how soon too, as some have claimed that it is not too good tradional wise for a king, especially of the caliber of the Ooni on the throne, the very one on the stool of ODUDUWA, to remain a bachelor for too long. Also the curiosity to know is also because this particular Ooni is still a very young in his early 40s and infact an handsome hunk of a man too, who is also very stylish at that, one who many very willing ladies would love to have as husband.

In debunking the tales, Prince Jide Fadairo the CEO of House of Oduduwa Foundation and husband of Princess Folasade, the monarch’s eldest sister, said that, "it was a fairy tale gone too far.
“Ooni’s marriage cannot be done secretly, it involves not only the royal family, it involves Yoruba custom and a lot of elders and our tradition are to be taken into cognisance. Please dismiss the story, it is another fake news.

Then another confidant and friend of the Ooni, Mr. Muyiwa Leroy Afolabi went further to say

” Kabiyesi will carry every Ile-Ife’s sons and daughters along whenever it’s time to pick another Olori (Queen) for us.

Let’s always verify the facts before sharing.”

Prince Fadairo went further to say, "the time is not propitious for the monarch who is immersed in the renaissance of Yoruba culture and promotion of the race’s customs and traditions globally.

“That’s not on His Imperial Majesty’s mind. Marriage is not something he wants to do right away. Many names have been bandied around but I can tell you they are all false, just like this case.”

Case closed for now then. Gbam!!!