One of the counsel defending Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State at the Election Petitions Tribunal, Dr. Olumide Ayeni, has denied being an appointee of the Action Congress of Nigeria's government in Ogun State.
Ayeni made the clarification in Akure on Monday while speaking with journalists on the claim by a group that it was unethical of him to represent Mimiko at the tribunal, considering his affiliation with the ACN.
The lawyer said Mimiko had the right to fair hearing which also included the right to hire a lawyer of his choice.
He said the group's claim in a publication was in a bad taste, aimed at stopping him from appearing for Mimiko.
He said, "The publication is in a bad taste. It is not only shocking but also annoying, and it is a clear attempt, through surreptitious manner, to drag a person away from a legitimate undertaking.
"I have always acted in accordance with the rules guiding the legal practice and the constitution of the country to the best of my knowledge.
"I hold no public office or political appointment in Ogun State where I come from, or in any other part of the country.
"As a matter of fact, I am only an honorary legal adviser to Senator Ibikunle Amosun as a person."
Ayeni added that the publication was done in a bad taste because the Ogun State Government, through its Commissioner for Information, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, had denied the same report when it was first published in the social media on Sunday.
He said, "Amosun is a personal senior friend and I defended a Peoples Democratic Party's petition against him last year even while he is already a governor. I hold no political appointment from anywhere in Nigeria."
A group, Ondo State Professional Integrity Forum had in a statement on Tuesday, described as "unethical and a breach of the rules of professional conduct", the brief taken by Ayeni to defend Mimiko.
The group in a statement by its Chairman, Mr. Lawrence Ololade, said there would be a conflict of interest for Ayeni to serve Amosun, who was elected on the platform of the ACN.
