SAN FRANCISCO, November 05, (THEWILL) – The National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Muiz Banire SAN has stated that he is still an anti-corruption crusader despite allegations that he bribed a Federal High Court judge, Justice Terseer Fishim.
Although the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday quizzed Banire for allegedly paying N500,000 into the bank account of the judge in 2013, Banire debunked reports that he was arrested, explaining that he only visited the commission to assist in its investigation of the matter.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the APC official said he never bribed anybody, urging his supporters not to be distracted by the “noise” as he remains an anti-corruption crusader.
According to him, “I was never arrested or invited by the EFCC but having read the allegation on the social media, I wrote a letter dated 29 October, 2016 to the EFCC notifying that I would be visiting the Commission on Tuesday 1st November, 2016 to assist in its investigation of the matter.”
“I am a strong advocate of anti-corruption campaign and will never descend into the insanity of offering bribe to pervert the course of justice. It is my strong conviction that the just shall live by faith and this passing phase shall soon give way to the triumph of the uncompromising truth. This development rather strengthens my resolve to continue to uphold my ideals and principles.”
Explaining that he only gave money to a friend who coincidentally happened to be a judge, Banire said the money was not a bribe but for the burial of the judge’s mother
The statement reads, “I did not give any bribe of the sum of N500,000 or any other amount to any Judge at any time whatsoever. The person to whom I gave a gift of N500,000 in 2013 was a former colleague in the academia, a fellow lawyer whom I now understand to be a judge with whom I had lost physical contact for more than seventeen years save for telephone conversation about probably three years ago when he solicited for my financial assistance towards his mother’s burial.
“I had not physically seen the said judge in the past 17 years or more until Thursday, November 3, 2016 at the EFCC premises; I have never appeared before the said judge either as a lawyer or as a litigant.
“I have never taken any benefit from the said recipient of my generosity and have never expected any benefit in return. The occasion of the gift was purely customary for the purpose of assisting in the burial of his deceased mother.
“I must say this kind of assistance is not peculiar to this old colleague but that which is the nature of my usual disposition to all colleagues, associations, students, clubs, religious bodies and humanity in general.”
