Deputy Speaker dismisses allegations on NYSC, Law School Records

2026-03-06 - 21:37

By Gift Chapi-Odekina, Abuja The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has denied allegations concerning his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) participation and Nigerian Law School attendance. In a statement issued Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu described claims by the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) as “speculative and unsubstantiated.” The statement noted that the allegations originated from a petition that has not been verified or determined by any competent authority. “First and foremost, it must be clearly stated that the allegations being circulated remain unproven claims arising from a petition that has neither been substantiated nor determined by any competent authority,” it said. Kalu’s credentials, the statement added, have been verified at multiple stages of his career. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2011 and enrolled as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Nigeria through processes governed by the Nigerian Law School and the Council of Legal Education. “No competent legal authority has invalidated his qualification or professional status since his call to the Bar,” the statement emphasized. The Deputy Speaker’s office also said the petition, reportedly submitted by a former Nigerian Bar Association official, does not constitute proof of wrongdoing. Nwabughiogu described the civil society group’s claims as “premature, misleading, and inconsistent with the principles of fairness and due process.” He further warned that attempts to politicize the issue risk encouraging similar smear campaigns against public officials. “For emphasis, the Deputy Speaker has never forged any credentials or falsified any official record,” the statement said, adding that previous accusations during the 2023 political season were dismissed in legal proceedings. Kalu remains committed to his legislative duties and expressed readiness to cooperate with any competent authority requesting documentation or clarification. “The Deputy Speaker therefore urges members of the public to disregard attempts to politicize the issue and to allow relevant statutory bodies, if they deem it necessary, to examine any petition placed before them,” the statement concluded.