TheCable

Jadegoke Badejo, a counsel representing Jimoh Ibrahim, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state, has withdrawn from his case at the court of appeal.

The development comes weeks after Alex Izinyon, Ibrahim’s former counsel, withdrew from his case, citing lack of payment for his services as the reason.

On his part, Badejo said he was pulling out because loyalists of Ibrahim failed to stop the newly constituted three-man panel of judges led by Ibrahim Saulawa, from hearing the case.

The court had granted leave to Eyitayo Jegede, Ibrahim’s rival, to appeal the ruling, which ordered his replacement as PDP candidate in Ondo.

But at the court on Wednesday, Badejo asked for an adjournment to enable him return the case file back to Ibrahim.

“This is my 36th year in practice, in the circumstances, I want to return the file back to the client,” he said.

“I am asking for an adjournment. I have looked at all that transpired in court. I don’t enjoy the environment so I want to withdraw.

“I have looked at everything dispassionately and I have my God and integrity.”

Wole Olanipekun, counsel to Jegede, said the application should be struck out Badejo had withdrawn from the case.

“Once he withdraws, that is the end of the application, it becomes spent and lifeless,” he said.

In the ruling, Saulawa struck out the application for Ibrahim to join the suit.