Kalu dismisses NYSC, Law School allegations as unproven, refuses to step aside as Deputy Speaker

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has rejected allegations regarding his participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and attendance at the Nigerian Law School, describing them as unproven claims from a petition yet to be determined by any competent authority.

A coalition led by the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) had raised the allegations at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu maintained that he remains a duly qualified legal practitioner whose credentials have been examined at multiple stages of his career.

He noted that he was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2011 and enrolled as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court, a process involving rigorous verification by the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Law School.

The statement stressed that no competent legal authority has ever invalidated his qualification.

It clarified that the controversy stems from a petition written by a former Nigerian Bar Association official requesting the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee and NYSC to examine aspects of his records.

“The mere existence of a petition does not amount to proof of wrongdoing, and it would be deeply irresponsible to attempt to convict any individual in the court of public opinion,” the statement read, adding that the coalition’s presentation of speculation as established fact was premature and misleading.

Kalu’s office further stated that similar accusations were raised during political contests in 2023 and dismissed in legal proceedings where he affirmed the authenticity of his credentials.

The Deputy Speaker has never forged any credentials or falsified official records, the statement added.

Calls for Kalu to “step aside” based on unverified claims set a dangerous precedent that could encourage politically motivated petitions against public officials as a destabilisation tool, according to the statement.

While expressing confidence in Nigerian institutions, Kalu pledged full cooperation should any competent authority request clarification. He urged the public to disregard attempts to politicise the matter and allow statutory bodies to examine any petition if deemed necessary.

The Deputy Speaker remains fully committed to his responsibilities, focusing on legislative reforms and national development.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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