A former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin branch, Mr. Rafiu Balogun, has denied any involvement in the impeachment move against the incumbent Chairman, Mr. Mobolaji Ojibara.

In a statement on Thursday, Balogun advised Ojibara to respond to the allegations of abuse of office and professional misconduct levied against him by the signatories to the impeachment notice.

"I have no business with the impeachment proceedings against the chairman, Ojibara. I did not sign the notice neither was I aware of its existence until it came to public knowledge.

"The Chairman, Mr. Ojibara, should be asked to react to the allegations levelled against him and stop maligning me," Balogun said.

He also denied that the impeachment move was the fallout of Ojibara's insistence that Balogun's executives should render accounts of their stewardship.

He also said it was untrue that he spent N16m on the reconstruction of the building of the branch, adding that it was also untrue that he incurred N7m loan or any sum whatsoever for the branch.

"The sum we spent on the reconstruction of the Bar Centre was solicited from the elders of the Bar or money generated from programmes organised by the branch and my personal donation of N1m.

"The project was contracted out to contractors the records of whom are with the present administration, and the contractors are still alive for any enquiry on the project. Our account is very clear on the income and expenditure during our tenure, as contained in our financial report.

"The committee set up by Ojibara to audit the report and accounts of our administration infringed on our constitutional right to fair hearing, and we challenged the committees' procedure in court," Balogun said.

He claimed that a cursory look at their prayers or reliefs in the court process would reveal that they requested the court to order the appointment of an independent certified auditor or chartered accountant to conduct the audit of their report, since he claimed that they had no skeleton in their cupboard.