The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed allegations of irregular participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and attendance at the Nigeria Law School involving the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
The committee ruled that no prima facie case had been established against the lawmaker.
The decision followed a petition submitted by John Aikpokpo Martins, who called for an investigation into an alleged overlap between Kalu’s NYSC service and his time at the Nigerian Law School.
However, in a Certified True Copy of its report dated March 11, 2026, with reference number BB/LPDC/1954/2026, the LPDC stated that the complaint did not fall within its jurisdiction.
The report, issued by the Registrar of the committee, Zibai Katung, indicated that the petition panel chaired by Umeh Kalu found no basis to proceed with the allegations.
According to the panel, the LPDC is mandated to regulate the professional conduct of lawyers only in relation to their duties to the public as provided under the Legal Practitioners Act.
The committee explained that the allegations related to events that allegedly occurred before Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar, meaning the matter could not fall under its disciplinary oversight.
It also stated that the LPDC does not have the authority to investigate the operations of institutions such as the National Youth Service Corps, the Council of Legal Education, the Body of Benchers, or the Nigerian Law School.
Consequently, the committee concluded that the petition was outside its jurisdiction and that the petitioner failed to present prima facie evidence to warrant inviting the Deputy Speaker to respond to the complaint.
The development was disclosed in a statement signed by Levinus Nwabughiogu.
