Two advocacy groups, the Save Nigeria Movement (SNM) and the Freelance Journalists Federation (FJF), have called for a comprehensive investigation by security agencies into the origins of a petition alleging irregularities in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) participation of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
The demand follows the recent decision by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to dismiss a similar petition filed by lawyer John Aikpokpo Martins, which claimed that Kalu attended the Nigerian Law School while simultaneously participating in the NYSC scheme—a scenario the petitioner argued violated NYSC regulations and involved false declarations leading to his call to the Bar in 2011.
In a press conference held in Abuja on Sunday, March 15, 2026, the groups’ conveners, Solomon Semeka (SNM) and Ibrahim Akawe Joseph (FJF), described the LPDC’s ruling as confirmation that Kalu did not participate in NYSC during his Law School training. They urged the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to probe those responsible for initiating and promoting the claims.
The groups highlighted that a prior petition on the same issue had been dismissed by the LPDC for lacking merit, suggesting the current controversy is a recycled effort driven by ulterior motives.
“It has become increasingly clear that this campaign is driven by political interests ahead of the 2027 governorship contest in Abia State,” the conveners stated, linking the allegations to rivalry in Kalu’s home state, where he hails from Bende Federal Constituency and has been a prominent political figure.
They condemned the allegations as a “deliberate attempt to defame a public official” and announced plans to submit their own petition to relevant security agencies for action against those found culpable.
“We wish to remind the public that a petition on this same matter was previously submitted to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee. After a review, the committee dismissed the petition for lacking merit,” they added.
The LPDC’s certified ruling (reference BB/LPDC/1954/2026), delivered earlier this month, concluded that no prima facie case was established against Kalu. The panel, noting procedural flaws in the complaint and that the allegations predated his enrollment as a legal practitioner, ruled the matter outside its jurisdiction.
Kalu, who represents Bende and serves as Deputy Speaker in the 10th National Assembly, has previously dismissed the claims as politically motivated and unproven, with his office reiterating confidence in his credentials.
