THE National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Muiz Banire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, was accused by an online media outfit of paying N500,000 “bribe” into the account of a serving judge of the National Industrial Court (NIC).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) started interrogating him as part of their investigations to determine if he was culpable of corruption.

In a rare and graceful gesture, Banire offered to resign from his post as the APC Legal Adviser to clear his name. He made it clear that the money he paid into the judge’s account was not a bribe since he had no official relationship with him and had never appeared in his court. He said the judge was an old friend who appealed to him for financial assistance to defray the cost of burying his mother.

However, coming at a time that the Federal Government’s anti-graft searchlight is on the judiciary, with many judges and senior lawyers currently being investigated or on trial for alleged corrupt dealings, we see Banire’s offer to step down as a move in the right direction.

Muiz-Banire

It is a justification of his personal stature as an anti-corruption activist.
Banire’s gesture is in tune with the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s insistence that the judges, who were subjects of the State Security Service (SSS) recent sting operations, could not continue to preside over cases while being investigated and tried for corruption.

By offering to go and clear his name first, Banire obviously seeks to protect the sanctity of his office as the chief legal officer of a ruling political party whose administration considers its anti-graft war as a priority.

It is, therefore, perplexing that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, after profusely praising Banire for keeping faith with the party’s anti-graft policy, went on to reject his offer of resignation. The party justified its stand on our constitutional credo that an accused is presumed innocent until proved guilty.

The party thus missed the message in Banire’s free offer to step aside: that he is on the same page with the Buhari anti-graft war which is being used to investigate and try other lawyers and judges who are not APC members. The party’s position appears to justify the perception that Buhari is fighting corruption alone, with his party foot-dragging over it.

The APC should have, after commending Banire for his action, however, offered to welcome him back to the post when he has cleared himself.

If Banire succumbs to the party’s pressure, the APC and its Federal Government will come under intense criticism for perceived double standards – sending accused non-party members to anti-graft trial and away from their posts while protecting their own party members involved in such issues.

Banire should ignore his party and follow his mind in the overall public interest.