EFCC grills APC legal adviser, Muiz Banire for alleged bribery

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday questioned the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN).

The EFCC also seized his passport before releasing him on administrative bail after detaining him for several hours.

The former Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, was quizzed for an alleged bribery of a judge.

The senior advocate was said to have transferred about N500, 000 to Justice Terseer Agbadu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court.

A source told The Punch, “While detectives were probing Justice Fishim’s account, they discovered that Banire deposited money into the judge’s account. So, we invited him and he did not deny it. He only said the money was not a bribe.

“Banire was quizzed by the EFCC for several hours and his passport was seized from him. He will return for more questioning as investigations continue.”

In a text message to the newspaper, Banire admitted to giving the judge money.

Banire wrote, “Thank you for clarification sought. I have no official relationship with the said judge. I have never appeared before him in any matter and in fact, in my entire professional career, I have only recently a month ago appeared at the industrial court before a separate judge.

“He was an old friend in the 90s, who only called me up some years back to seek financial assistance due to his mother’s death. Beyond that, I have not seen him in the last 17 years.”

Meanwhile, Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Governor, has condemned the National Judicial Council’s directive to judges under investigation to step down.

(Punch)