The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
on Thursday quizzed the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives
Congress, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), for about seven hours.
The
EFCC also seized his passport before releasing him on administrative bail.
It
was learnt that Banire, who is a former Lagos State Commissioner for Transport,
was quizzed for the 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 said, “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.”
Attempts
to speak with Banire on Friday proved abortive as his phone indicated that it
was switched off.
However,
in a text message he sent before he was invited by the EFCC, the senior
advocate admitted to giving the judge money.
He,
however, maintained that the money was not a bribe but he was merely helping
the judge who was broke at the time.
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.”
Source:The Punch
Tags
Politics