By Vivian Okejeme Abuja
The Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG), has taken its protests against Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu’s law school certificate to the Body of Benchers.
The letter sighted by PEOPLES DAILY was addressed to the Chairman of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) pursuant to the Legal Practitioners’ Act Cap. L11, Laws of Nigeria 2004.
However, the Body rejected the petition on technicality ground, hence, setting the procedures to follow before their petition seeking the probe of the lawmaker can receive due attention.
Consequently, the regulatory body handed the group some forms to complete and attach to the petition for it to be acceptable.
It questioned the concurrent timelines of Kalu’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) engagement and his enrolment at the Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus, from 2010 to 2011.
The petitioners, citing official records, noted that Kalu was mobilised for NYSC from March 9, 2010 to March 8, 2011 (Discharge Certificate No. A001773067) while also enrolled into the Nigerian Law School from April 23, 2010 to September 2011.
The group noted that Kalu, upon admission to the Law School, had “solemnly declared on April 23, 2010, that he was not and will not engage in employment or participate in the NYSC during his course of study.”
His declaration, as quoted in the petition, reads: “I, Mr. Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu of 76 Factory Road, Umuahia, Abia State hereby declare on my honour that I am not and will not be engaged in any employment nor serve in the National Youth Service Corps during the period of my course at the Nigerian Law School.”
The coalition added that Kalu claimed to have graduated from the University of Calabar in 1998 and wondered, “How come that after a whole 12 years after graduation, Kalu’s alleged Youth Service and Law School happened concurrently?”
The CSGGG asked the Body of Bencher to “provide clarity as to how the Rt. Hon. Kalu could have effectively met the requirements of the Law School if indeed he actively participated by calling up his academic records.”
It said if it is determined that Kalu breached the law, the body must “apply the appropriate sanctions to safeguard the prestige and sanctity of the Law Profession in Nigeria. To demonstrate that no Nigerian, a lawyer for that matter, is above the law when found culpable.”
The petition also addressed a recent statement credited to the Deputy Speaker’s office, noting: “Rt. Hon. Kalu through his office did state that ‘the allegations being circulated remain unproven claims arising from a petition that has neither been substantiated nor determined by any competent authority.’ The implication of that is obvious.”
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