By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA — A coalition of civic organisations under the aegis of the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) has urged the Council of Legal Education to remain firm and conclude its ongoing probe into the law school qualifying certificate of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its President, Ogakwu Dominic, the coalition commended the Council for constituting a three-member investigative committee to examine the petition, and called on it to resist external pressure and complete the process.

The group noted that the Council, at its meeting on April 17, 2026, set up the committee and subsequently wrote to Kalu on April 21, requesting a written response within seven days.

The petition centres on allegations of perjury, false representation, and discrepancies between Kalu’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate and his Nigerian Law School records. At issue is the overlap between his NYSC service—reported to have run from March 9, 2010, to March 8, 2011—and his enrolment at the Nigerian Law School during the same period.

Records cited in the petition indicate that upon admission into the Law School on April 23, 2010, Kalu—then bearing the name Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu—declared he was not engaged, and would not be engaged, in employment or NYSC service during his studies.

Responding 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 urged its dismissal. The legal team argued that there was no evidence of criminal conduct, that the petition relied on an unsworn declaration, and that no law expressly prohibits simultaneous participation in NYSC and Law School programmes.

They further contended that the Council lacks statutory authority to withdraw or cancel a qualifying certificate once issued, warning that such action would amount to a penal measure requiring strict compliance with constitutional safeguards under Sections 36(8) and 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution.
However, the CSGGG maintained that the Council retains powers under the Legal Education (Consolidation, etc.) Act to investigate allegations relating to the procurement of qualifying certificates, including claims of false representation.

The coalition expressed concern that the legal response focused more on jurisdictional objections than on addressing the substance of the allegations, urging the committee not to allow technical arguments to derail its work.

It also raised concerns over reports that the Deputy Speaker may seek a court injunction to halt the investigation, describing such a move as an attempt to frustrate a statutory process.

The group further called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reaffirm that no public official is above scrutiny.

Meanwhile, the Council has declined public comment on the matter. Its Secretary and Director of Administration, Aderonke O. Osho, confirmed that correspondence was sent to Kalu but said the probe would be handled privately, without confirming whether a response had been received.

Kalu has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2011 and enrolled as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, maintaining that no competent authority has invalidated his qualifications.