A coalition known as the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) has called on the Council of Legal Education to resist external pressures and conclude its investigation into the law school qualifying certificate of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group's President, Comrade Ogakwu Dominic, praised the Council for forming an investigative committee to look into the petition and urged it to remain unwavering despite legal objections from Kalu's legal team.
Investigation Details
The Council, during its meeting on April 17, 2026, established a three-member ad hoc committee to examine the allegations. A follow-up letter dated April 21, 2026, instructed the Deputy Speaker to provide a written response within seven days to facilitate the committee's work. The petition involves allegations of perjury, false representation, and inconsistencies between Kalu's National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate and his Nigerian Law School records. The core issue revolves around the timeline of his NYSC service relative to his enrollment at the Law School.
Legal Response
In response to the Council's query, Kalu's solicitors, Olaniwun Ajayi LP, in a letter dated April 28, 2026, described the petition as legally deficient and requested its dismissal. The legal team argued that there is no evidence of criminal conduct, the petition relies on an unsworn declaration, and no law expressly prohibits simultaneous participation in NYSC and Law School programs. They contended that the Council lacks statutory authority to withdraw or cancel a qualifying certificate once issued, asserting that such action would constitute a penal measure requiring strict compliance with constitutional safeguards under Sections 36(8) and 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution.
Coalition's Stance
The coalition maintained that while Kalu has the right to legal representation, the Council possesses sufficient powers under the Legal Education (Consolidation, etc.) Act to investigate allegations related to the procurement of qualifying certificates. The group expressed concern that the legal response focused on challenging the Council's jurisdiction rather than addressing the substance of the allegations, warning that technical arguments should not derail the process. It also raised concerns about reports that the Deputy Speaker might seek a court injunction to halt the probe, describing this as an attempt to frustrate a statutory process. The coalition called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take note of the situation and publicly affirm that no public official is above institutional scrutiny.
Council's Position
The Council has declined to comment publicly on the matter. Its Secretary and Director of Administration, Ms. Aderonke O. Osho, confirmed that a letter was sent to Kalu but stated that the process would be handled internally, declining to confirm whether a response had been received before the deadline. Kalu has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2011 and remains enrolled as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, maintaining that no competent authority has invalidated his qualification or professional standing.
