About a forth night ago, the Ward C of Lagos chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was in disarray over internal crisis largely caused by allegations of anti-party against its national legal adviser, Dr Muniz Banire. JOHN NWOKOCHA writes that the dispute in the party had lingered and culminated in the party applying extreme sanction against the embattled Banire, with 10-year suspension slammed on him
Background It is no surprising that the lingering crisis in the Mushing area of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Lagos State has reached its height with the suspension of its embattled national legal adviser, Dr Muniz Banire.
Th is is to the effect that the recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee that Banire should be suspended for 10 years was yesterday upheld by the Ward C chapter of APC for alleged various acts of anti-party activities.
It would be recalled that the chapter had set up the committee chaired by BolajiAbass to investigate the allegations contained in a petition written by two members of the party in the area, OlukayodeTundeTolu and Ayodeji Adebayo against Banire.
Other members of the committee included LaideBadru (Secretary), WunmiBewaji (General Counsel) and MrsMuinat Mustapha.
Th e committee sat on August 14, 2017 at Bishop Aggey Memorial School, Ilasamaja, but Banire reportedly shunned the invitation to defend the allegations against him.
Banire Shuns Committee Blueprint had reported: “Embattled National Legal Adviser of All Progressives Congress (APC), MrMuizBanire on Monday failed to appear before the Disciplinary Committee set up by the party in Ward C of Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State to adjudicate on allegations of antiparty activities and misappropriation of campaign materials and logistics levelled against him.
“Th e committee had summoned Banire to appear before its sitting by 10am on Monday at Bishop Aggey Memorial School, Ilasamaja, Mushin to defend allegations contained in a petition written against him by two members of the party in the area, MrOlukayodeTundeTolu and MrAyodeji Adebayo.
“As early as 7am, members of the party in the area started trooping to the venue of the sitting, while the members of the Panel waited till about 11:20am before commencing the business of the day.
“In his introductory remarks, Chairman of the Committee, MrBolajiAbass fi rst introduced other members who included MrLaideBadru (Secretary), MrWunmiBewaji (General Counsel) and MrsMuinat Mustapha.
“Abass said the function of the Committee was simply to examine the allegations levelled against Banire by concerned members of the party, just as he assured that the Committee would be fair in arriving at its decision which would then be submitted to the Ward Executive of the party for onward delivery to the Local Government and then State Executive of APC.
Th e Secretary of the Committee (Badru) then called the petitioners and respondent (Banire), but while the petitioners were at the proceedings, Banire was conspicuously absent.
Badru later displayed copies of advertorials in two national dailies and evidence of receipt of courier letter inviting Banire for the sitting.
“In his testimony before the Committee, Olukayode said Banire had committed grievous attrocities against the party and had carried out series of acts of indiscipline, which must not go unpunished”.
Allegations Still, the petitioners (Olukayode and Adebayo) alleged that aside the fact that Banire had been continuously absented from ward meetings for more than two years contrary to Article 9 (2) (iii) of the party’s constitution, he has also been engaging in unrestrained media campaigns against the party, its organs, leaders and functionaries, a development deliberately calculated to embarrass the party and bring it into disrepute contrary to Article 9 (2) (I) of the constitution.
Th e petition read: “Th at the member (Banire) has openly been encouraging and inciting court actions against the party, its organs and functionaries when internal dispute resolution mechanisms have not been explored or exhausted contrary to Article 21 (A) (ii) of the constitution.
“Th e member (Banire) has been conducting himself in such a way and manner as to constitute a distraction to the good policies and programmes of the government of President MuhammaduBuhari contrary to Article 21 (A) (ii) of the constitution.
“Th at the member (Banire) collected campaign “materials and logistics” – for the 2015 general election and the recent local government elections without deploying, disbursing or applying same for the benefi t of the party.
He has failed to pay, as at when due or howsoever, party dues and levies.
“Th at the member (Banire) has been conducting himself and continues to conduct himself in such a way and manner as could jeopardise, endanger or damage the electoral fortunes of the party and the party brand contrary to Article 21 (A) (ii) of the constitution.
” After reviewing the allegations against Banire, the committee, in Th e Secretary of the Committee (Badru) then called the petitioners and respondent (Banire), but while the petitioners were at the proceedings, Banire was conspicuously absent.
Badru later displayed copies of advertorials in two national dailies and evidence of receipt of courier letter inviting Banire for the sitting.
“In his testimony before the Committee, Olukayode said Banire had committed grievous attrocities against the party and had carried out series of acts of indiscipline, which must not go unpunished”.
Allegations Still, the petitioners (Olukayode and Adebayo) alleged that aside the fact that Banire had been continuously absented from ward meetings for more than two years contrary to Article 9 (2) (iii) of the party’s constitution, he has also been engaging in unrestrained media campaigns against the party, its organs, leaders and functionaries, a development deliberately calculated to embarrass the party and bring it into disrepute contrary to Article 9 (2) (I) of the constitution.
Th e petition read: “Th at the member (Banire) has openly been encouraging and inciting court actions against the party, its organs and functionaries when internal dispute resolution mechanisms have not been explored or exhausted contrary to Article 21 (A) (ii) of the constitution.
“Th e member (Banire) has been conducting himself in such a way and manner as to constitute a distraction to the good policies and programmes of the government of President MuhammaduBuhari contrary to Article 21 (A) (ii) of the constitution.
“Th at the member (Banire) collected campaign “materials and logistics” – for the 2015 general election and the recent local government elections without deploying, disbursing or applying same for the benefi t of the party.
He has failed to pay, as at when due or howsoever, party dues and levies.
“Th at the member (Banire) has been conducting himself and continues to conduct himself in such a way and manner as could jeopardise, endanger or damage the electoral fortunes of the party and the party brand contrary to Article 21 (A) (ii) of the constitution.
