Ondo crisis: Jimoh ibrahim's lawyer abandons him

The lead lawyer to the embattled gubernatorial aspirant for the Ondo state Peoples Democratic Party Jimoh Ibrahim has withdrawn from a matter against his client – Alex Iziyion made his withdrawal known in a letter to Ibrahim on Wednesday, November 2 – Iziyion accused his client of owing him for four legal appearnaces made on his behalf

The embattled Ondo state Peoples Democratic Party aspirant Jimoh Ibrahim is currently facing difficult challenges of legal representation. Ibrahim’s lawyer, Alex Iziyion on Wednesday, November 2, dump his client after an incident at the Appeal Court in Abuja. On Monday, the appellate court had failed to give ruling on the Ondo PDP leadership matter filed by the national chairman Ahmed Makarfi. The court led by Justice Jummai Sankey said its integrity was being questioned over a petition written to the president of the court by Biyi Poroye, a member of the Ali Modu-Sheriff faction of the PDP. Sankey further disqualified the three-man jury panel and returned the case file to the president of the Appeal Court. Subsequently, following the Appeal Court’s decision, Iziyion in a letter informed Ibrahim of his withdrawal from the matter. The lawyer said despite the fact that he has not been paid for four different appearances made on the matter, he felt sidelined, having been kept in the dark about Poroye’s petition. He also lamented the judge’s accusation that he had knowledge of the petition against the court despite his protest. Iziyion said: “You will recall my earlier letter to you on 27/10/2016 stating the status of the various cases we handled at the federal high court and currently at the court of appeal. For ease of reference a copy is enclosed here with.” “On the federal high court group of cases, it was really only one that I was briefed on enforcement, which is No.2 on the list which we did and the N15 million was paid for that,” Iziyion said. “For the remaining 3, 4, 5 and 6 on the list, we did not receive fees and I recall informing you on this and you said you were not inclined to pay anything but only secretarial bill of N5 million. “As for the one which brought me to the court of appeal – CA/A/551/M/2016, Ahmed Makarfi and Ben Obi VS PDP, we filed our counter-affidavit and the motion was heard on 28/10/2016 and ruling was reserved,” he said. He also said for the sake of professional ethics, he cannot continue as Ibrahim’s counsel anymore. “But with the development of 1/11/2016, it abates and will start with a new panel. With what happened yesterday (Tuesday) in court, in the matter associated with CA/A551C/M/2016, in Mr. Taut Jegede’s motion, you will recall that my person was indicted by the presiding justice as having a fore knowledge of the petition written by the 1st respondent (Poroye) despite my protest and innocence,” he said. “It is in this regard that I hereby withdraw from further appearance. This is to enable you brief another lawyer who shall take over the file. We will forward the file and the processes to your personal assistant forthwith. “Meanwhile, I have done the motion for joinder for you which is 50-50 chances as I discussed with you before. Your senator friend was to assist in this respect as he promised to pay me N10 million. “Also, I have done Nos 2, 3 and 4 in the list sent on 27/10/2016 without any payment. In this connection, kindly take out N5 million from the N10 million given as we have done half with N5 million you had promised to give for secretarial service of all other cases as listed as set off in the circumstances for the balance. “The joinder application we filed was on the instruction of your senator friend as stated above as at the cost he promised but nothing so far. Kindly bear with me the circumstances I find myself and thank you for the confidence repose in me in conducting the matter so far,” he concluded.