- A disciplinary committee set up by ward c of the APC to investigate alleged anti-party politics against Muiz Banire has slammed a 10-year suspension on him
- The committee was established after two members of the party accused Banire in a petition
- The suspension now means that Banire, the national legal adviser of the party, cannot seek election under it
The ward c chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos has affirmed the 10-year suspension handed the national legal adviser of the party, Dr Muiz Banire.
The chapter, which is also Banire’s ‘primary constituency’, received this affirmation on Wednesday, August 30 as part of the report of the disciplinary committee it set up to investigate alleged anti-party politics against the top politician.
The committee held that Banire be suspended from party activities as well as barred from holding any party office or contesting public office on the platform of the APC for 10 years.
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“In view of the gravity of the complaints as alleged and proved, and to serve as deterrence to others of his ilk or similar proclivity, the aforementioned punishments shall run consecutively with effect from Monday, 21 August, 2017,” the committee held.
Banire was accused of misappropriation of campaign materials and logistics.
The committee was set up and chaired by Mr Bolaji Abass after a petition from two members of the party in the area, Mr Olukayode Tunde Tolu and Mr Ayodeji Adebayo.
The petitioners claimed that aside the fact that Banire had been continuously absent from ward meetings for more than two years contrary to Article 9 (2) (iii) of its constitution, he had also been engaging in unrestrained media campaigns against the party, its organs, leaders and functionaries.
Part of the petition read: “That 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.
“The member 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 Muhammadu contrary to Article 21 (A) (ii) of the constitution.
“That the member collected campaign ‘materials and logistics’ for the 2015 general elections and the recent local government elections without deploying, disbursing or applying same for the benefit of the party.
“He has failed to pay, as at when due or howsoever, party dues and levies.”
Receiving the report from the committee, the acting chairman of the party in the ward, Mr Omobolaji Amusan, said it would be forwarded to the Mushin local government chapter of the party for necessary action.
“We decided to set up this committee to give the respondent (Banire) fair hearing on the allegations written against him by members of the party in respect of anti-party activities and misappropriation of campaign materials and logistics.
“Unfortunately, he decided not to honour the invitation and the committee has made its decision which the party has adopted at the ward level.
“The report has been given to me and I promise that it will be delivered to the LGA for onward submission to the party at the state level after which it will be forwarded to the national body,” Amusan said.
Banire was yet to react at the time of this report.
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NAIJ.com earlier reported that members of the disciplinary panel recently left the venue of the sitting angry after they were shunned by the accused.
The disciplinary committee in Ward C of the Mushin local government area in of Lagos met to look into the allegations which include misappropriation of campaign materials and logistics levelled against Banire.
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Wednesday, 30 August 2017