ABUJA: The integrity of Nigeria’s legal regulatory framework came under intense scrutiny on Wednesday as protesters under the aegis of the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance CSGGG formally passed a vote of no confidence in the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee LPDC.
The group’s decision followed what it described as a “continued failure, refusal and neglect” by the committee to act on a petition involving the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
The controversy centres on petition BB/LPDC/1948/2026, filed on January 20, 2026, by John Aikpokpo Martins, Esq., where he alleged significant inconsistencies regarding Kalu’s National Youth Service Corps NYSC service year and his period of enrollment at the Nigerian Law School’s Enugu Campus.
Members of the coalition who stormed the premises of the Body of Benchers in Abuja, wielded placards with various inscriptions such as “Integrity First; Verify Before You Lead”, “Show Your Certificate, Benjamin Kalu”; “No More Foolery, Submit Your Certificate”; “Transparency Now, Show Your Certificate”; and, “The Law Applies to Everyone Including You”, among others.
CSGGG maintained that these allegations strike at the very root of the Deputy Speaker’s professional standing and the integrity of his admission to the Nigerian Bar.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the LPDC Chairman, convener of the CSOs, Chief Dominic Ogakwu argued that the committee’s silence suggests that certain individuals may be considered “beyond scrutiny.”
“The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee exists precisely to safeguard the integrity and credibility of the legal profession. Its responsibilities are not discretionary exercises to be undertaken only when convenient; they are statutory duties imposed by law”, he stated.
The group expressed concern that the lack of transparency in handling a matter involving a high-ranking public official is rapidly eroding public trust in the nation’s disciplinary institutions.
The CSOs warned that continued inaction would force the public to pursue alternative lawful measures, including sustained civic engagement and intensified public advocacy; judicial proceedings to compel the committee to discharge its legal obligations; and, a formal review of the committee’s continued relevance if it is perceived to have outlived its usefulness.
The CSGGG emphasized that as a pillar of constitutional democracy, the legal profession must be governed by institutions that command absolute respect.
It urged the LPDC to act decisively on the pending petition to prevent a total collapse of confidence in the disciplinary system.
