The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has dismissed allegations surrounding his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) participation and attendance at the Nigerian Law School, describing the claims as unproven and politically motivated.
In a press statement issued on March 6, 2026, the Deputy Speaker’s office reacted to a press conference organised by a coalition led by the Civil Society Groups of Good Governance, which raised concerns about alleged irregularities in Kalu’s NYSC service and legal education.
The statement, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, said the allegations were based on a petition that has not been substantiated or determined by any competent authority.
According to the statement, Kalu remains a qualified legal practitioner whose credentials have been scrutinized at various stages of his career.
It recalled that the Deputy Speaker was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2011 and duly enrolled as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Nigeria after completing the statutory requirements 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 followed a petition reportedly submitted by a former official of the Nigerian Bar Association, requesting that the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee and the National Youth Service Corps examine aspects of the Deputy Speaker’s academic and service records.
However, it stressed that the existence of a petition does not amount to proof of wrongdoing and warned against what it described as attempts to “convict individuals in the court of public opinion.”
The statement also suggested that the allegations were part of a coordinated smear campaign aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the Deputy Speaker, adding that some civic organisations had cautioned against politicising the matter.
It further noted that similar claims were raised during the 2023 political contests but were dismissed in legal proceedings where Kalu affirmed the authenticity of his credentials.
Reaffirming his commitment to transparency and the rule of law, the Deputy Speaker’s office said he is ready to cooperate fully with any competent authority should clarification or documentation be required.
The statement emphasized that Nigeria’s democratic system is built on the principle of presumption of innocence and due process, warning that calls for Kalu to step aside based on unverified claims could set a dangerous precedent for politically motivated attacks on public officials.
The Deputy Speaker, the statement added, remains focused on his legislative responsibilities and on advancing national development while strengthening democratic institutions.
The press release urged members of the public to disregard what it described as attempts to politicize the issue and allow relevant institutions to examine any petition through proper legal processes.
