Group wants Deputy Speaker Kalu’s NYSC record investigated

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

Civil Society Groups for Good Governance on Friday demanded a probe into the National Youth Service Corps record of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, over alleged discrepancies surrounding his service year and related records.

A coalition of civil society organisations raised concerns over what it described as issues surrounding Kalu’s suitability to continue in office in light of alleged perjury and false representation.

At a world press conference in Abuja, Friday, the President of the group, Chief Dominic Ogakwu, said the coalition convened the briefing to demand accountability and transparency from public officials.

“On behalf of the coalition and specifically the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance, I commend your commitment to democratic governance, rule of law, accountability and probity in public office,” he said.

Ogakwu said the demand for clarification was rooted in the constitutional principle that all authorities and persons in Nigeria must be subject to the law.

He quoted the Bible and the Constitution to emphasise the importance of truth and accountability, saying, “The Bible instructs us that ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.’ Also, the 1999 Constitution as amended states that the Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on the authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He added, “What we are gathered here today to do is to demand the truth and to test the constitutional provision that all authorities and persons in our country are indeed held to the same scrutiny and accountability without prejudice.”

According to the coalition, concerns had been raised over whether Kalu fully participated in the compulsory one-year national service as required by law.

“We do not impute any crime yet; rather we demand clarity as to the possibility of Rt. Hon. Kalu, after swearing two oaths — one with the NYSC and the other with the Nigerian Law School — still carrying out two functions which are mutually exclusive,” Ogakwu said.

He noted that the NYSC Act requires corps members to devote themselves fully to the national service year.

“Rt. Hon. Kalu swore on oath as required by the NYSC Act that he would engage in a continuous one-year national service. We therefore wonder how he engaged in any lawful endeavour such as the Law School and partake in full-time academic training at the same time,” he said.

The coalition also pointed to the Nigerian Law School policy, which prohibits students from serving as corps members during their period of study.

“It is also instructive to note that under the Nigerian Law School policy, a very strict policy at that, students are prohibited from serving as corps members during their period of study,” Ogakwu stated.

He further alleged that records indicated that Kalu had changed his name several times before admission into the Nigerian Law School.

“You may wish to note that our dear Deputy Speaker was admitted into the Nigerian Law School under the name Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu before effecting a change of name three times,” he said.

Ogakwu also cited a declaration allegedly made by Kalu in 2010 regarding his participation in the NYSC scheme.

“From available records, he swore as follows: ‘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,’” he said.

He questioned how Kalu could have simultaneously complied with the requirements of both the NYSC and the Nigerian Law School.

“If he swore on oath twice, the germane question is how did he come by his NYSC discharge certificate allegedly issued on March 8, 2011 when he was supposedly at the Law School?” he asked.

The coalition therefore urged the NYSC to clarify the matter.

“Let the NYSC come clean on Mr Kalu’s service year record. Did he actually participate in the compulsory national service about the discharge certificate he possesses? If yes, how? If not, how did he come about it?” Ogakwu said.

He also called on the Nigerian Law School and the Council of Legal Education to make public records showing Kalu’s participation in the Law School programme.

“The Nigerian Law School and Council of Legal Education should avail the public of their records showing the full participation of Mr Kalu in over 70 per cent of activities as required by its rules,” he added.

The coalition further urged Kalu to address the allegations directly.

“Mr Kalu himself should demonstrate the moral high ground by showing proof that he actually didn’t combine both programmes simultaneously, and if he did not, he should explain the certificates he possesses,” Ogakwu said.

He stressed that no individual should be placed above the law, regardless of position.

“It is a title matter that no individual is bigger or more important than the laws of our country, especially the Constitution. For too long we have allowed people with tainted records to occupy high and important offices,” he said.

The group therefore called on the Deputy Speaker to step aside pending the determination of the allegations.

“Our prayers are simple. Let Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu step aside pending the determination of these allegations. He occupies too grave an office for any taint to be associated with the occupant,” Ogakwu said.

Concluding, he added that the coalition would escalate the matter if the relevant authorities failed to act.

“Finally, we are committed to following this to the latter and will occupy the National Assembly if after 72 hours the various authorities do not act,” he warned.