Banire, APC legal adviser faces party trial

Ward C, Alafia/Adeoyo in Ilasamaja in a letter dated 10 July and which was circulated Thursday 10 August, asked Banire to meet its committee at the Mushin Sports Centre on 14 August, a move that may lead to his suspension or expulsion from the party. It appears the party wants to make a big show of its interrogation and trial, in the choice of venue and invitation to “interested members of the public, members of the press, domestic and international observers/monitors”. The guests are expected to be seated by 9.45 a.m on Monday. “The business of the sitting is to examine, hear and determine the complaints filed against you by concerned members of the party…You may wish to attend with legal practitioners of your own choice and such witnesses, documents as you may determine”, said the letter, signed by Badru Olaide, the ward secretary. Copies of the letter were despatched to APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and other principal leaders of the party at the national level. According to the complaints filed against Banire, who was a former commissioner in Lagos State and a senior advocate of Nigeria, he is alleged not to be a resident of the ward. He is also accused of being absent from the ward meetings for two years. The petitioners also said that Banire ”has been engaged in reckless media campaigns against the party, its organs , leaders and functionaries, which is likely and calculated to embarrass the party and bring it into hatred, contempt, ridicule, disrepute”, contrary to the rules of the party. If the prayers of the petitioners were accepted by the party, the senior advocate risks suspension for at least 10 years and a ban for another 10 years from party positions. Banire had stepped on the party’s powerful toes in the run-up to the local council elections held in the state last month. At a stage, he took the party to court to challenge alleged imposition of candidates. The party leadership reportedly felt betrayed by his action. Efforts to get Banire’s reaction to the planned public trial were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off.]]>