By Michael Agbaji
The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has dismissed as misleading and unsubstantiated the allegations raised by a coalition led by the Civil Society Groups of Good Governance (CSGGG) concerning his participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and attendance at the Nigerian Law School.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Deputy Speaker’s Office said the claims currently circulating in some sections of the media stem from a petition that has neither been substantiated nor determined by any competent authority.
The Office stressed that Rt. Hon. Kalu remains a duly qualified legal practitioner whose credentials have undergone rigorous verification processes over the course of his professional and public service career.
According to the statement, Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2011 and subsequently enrolled as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a process supervised by the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Law School.
“At no time since his call to the Bar has any competent legal authority invalidated his qualification or professional status,” the statement said.
The Office noted that the controversy arose from a petition reportedly written by a former official of the Nigerian Bar Association, requesting that the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) and the National Youth Service Corps examine aspects of the Deputy Speaker’s academic and service records.
It emphasised that the existence of a petition does not amount to proof of wrongdoing and warned against attempts to convict individuals in the court of public opinion.
“The attempt by some groups to present speculation as established fact is premature, misleading, and inconsistent with the principles of fairness and due process,” the statement added.
The Office further stated that previous allegations of a similar nature had surfaced during political contests in 2023 but were dismissed after the Deputy Speaker affirmed the authenticity of his credentials.
While reiterating confidence in Nigerian institutions, the Office said the Deputy Speaker would fully cooperate with any lawful request for clarification or documentation by relevant authorities.
It also rejected what it described as attempts at political blackmail through ultimatums and threats of protests.
The statement added that calls for the Deputy Speaker to step aside based solely on unverified allegations risk setting a dangerous precedent capable of encouraging politically motivated petitions against public officials.
The Office urged members of the public to disregard attempts to politicise the matter and allow relevant statutory bodies to examine any petition placed before them in accordance with due process.
It reaffirmed that the Deputy Speaker remains focused on his legislative duties and committed to advancing reforms, national development, and strengthening democratic institutions.
Signed
