The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has dismissed allegations regarding his participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and attendance at the Nigerian Law School, describing the claims as unproven and politically motivated.
In a statement issued on March 6, 2026, the Deputy Speaker’s office was reacting to a press conference organised by a coalition led by the Civil Society Groups of Good Governance (CSGGG), which raised concerns over alleged irregularities in his academic and service records.
The statement, signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu, said the allegations stem from a petition that has neither been substantiated nor determined by any competent authority.
According to the statement, Kalu remains a duly qualified legal practitioner whose professional credentials have undergone scrutiny at different stages of his career.
It noted that the Deputy Speaker was called to the 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 further explained 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 records.
It stressed 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 Deputy Speaker’s office accused some groups of presenting speculation as established fact, describing the move as misleading and inconsistent with the principles of fairness and due process.
It also cited comments from other civic organisations which cautioned against politicising the matter, with one youth group reportedly noting that no verified official report exists indicting Kalu and that previous verification exercises confirmed the validity of his NYSC certificate.
The statement further recalled that similar allegations were raised during the 2023 political contests but were dismissed in legal proceedings where Kalu affirmed the authenticity of his credentials.
The office emphasised that the Deputy Speaker has never forged or falsified any official record.
While expressing confidence in the integrity of Nigerian institutions, the statement said Kalu would fully cooperate with any competent authority should clarification or documentation be required.
The office also rejected what it described as attempts by some groups to issue ultimatums and threats of protests, calling them acts of political blackmail.
It added that calls for the Deputy Speaker to step aside based on unverified claims could set a dangerous precedent that encourages politically motivated petitions against public officials.
The statement concluded that Kalu remains focused on his legislative duties and committed to national development, urging the public to allow relevant statutory bodies to handle any petitions in line with due process.
