• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in collaboration with Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) have threatened to occupy the National Assembly (NASS) complex if after 72hours the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Right Honourable Benjamin Okezie Kalu, fails to step aside and allow investigation into his alleged perjury, false representation and allied matters. This is even as the CSOs are demanding that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Nigerian Law School and Council of Legal Education should come clean on the alleged discrepancies in the NYSC and Law School documents of the Deputy Speaker which they said has become a subject of debate recently. Addressing a crowded Press Conference on Friday at Novare Mall, Hall 2, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, chieftains of CSOs led by Chief Dominic Ogakwu, President, CSGGG, said they are demanding the truth, and to test the constitutional provision that all authorities and persons in Nigeria are indeed held to the same scrutiny and accountability without prejudice to Chapter 1:1 of the supreme law of the land - the 1999 Constitution as Amended. They said the the Press Conference was called on the matter concerning Rt. Hon. Kalu, Deputy Speaker of Federal House of Representatives and issues surrounding his suitability to continue in that office in the light of heavy allegations of perjury, false representation and allied matters. According to the group, Nigeria Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on the authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria, pointing out that if the above is true then the Deputy Speaker is not above the law of the land and should not continue to occupy his high position in NASS. The CSOs threatened that "We are committed to following this to the latter and will occupy the NASS if after 72hours the various authorities do not act." CSGGG President's text read: "Gentlemen of the Press, on behalf of the coalition and specifically the Civil Society Groups of Good Governance, CSGGG, I welcome you all to this World Press Briefing and commend your commitment to democratic governance, rule of law, accountability and probity in public office. It is pertinent to remind you all that the Bible instructs us that "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." (John 8:32). Also, the 1999 Constitution as Amended says in Chapter 1. (1) "This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on the authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria." Therefore, what we are gathered here today 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 to Chapter 1:1 of the supreme law of the land - the 1999 Constitution as Amended. Let me make it clear that we are non-aligned, partisan or otherwise, and our interest in this matter which has been raging for a while without due attention by the relevant authorities; the Nigerian Law School, the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, as well as the principal actor in the debacle, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, should be a source of great worry to all patriotic Nigerians. 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 that he will abide faithfully and wholly with the demands of the Service Year and the rigours of the Law School still carry out two functions which are mutually exclusive and not be held for perjury and for violating the rules and regulations of NYSC and the Nigerian Law School. We shall return to the matter presently. Rt. Hon. Kalu swore on oath as required by the NYSC Act Section 2(3) that he will engage in a continuous one-year national service. We therefore wonder how "statutorily possible" it was for him to engage in any lawful endeavor such as the Law School and partake in full-time academic training at the same time. Fishy! 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. 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 actually has he changed his name, solemnly declared on April 23, 2010 that he was not and would not engage in employment or participate in the NYSC during his course of study. 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." Gentlemen of the Press, if he swore on oath twice, the germane question is: How did he come by his NYSC Discharge Certificate No. A001773067 allegedly issued on March 8, 2011 and at the same time of March 9, 2010 to March 8, 2011 when he was supposedly at the Law School? READ ALSO: Only one of two scenarios can apply: either he did not participate fully in the NYSC Service Year, or he never attended the Nigerian Law School to qualify him to be enrolled into the Bar. It is this reason we demand for clarity and accountability from Kalu himself, the NYSC and the Nigerian Law School and Council of Legal Education. It is a trite matter that no individual is bigger or more important than the laws of our country, especially the Constitution. For too long have we allowed people with tainted records to occupy high and important offices. We should remind you of our recent history where ministers have been forced to resign, judges have been sanctioned and sent packing over their indiscretions and abuse of records, professors have been dismissed from their posts for falsifying records and engaging in plagiarism. So, it doesn't not matter whether anybody is the No. 6 Citizen of the Federal Republic. Our prayers are simple: Gentlemen of the Press, we are duty bound to demand of those we call our leaders the highest probity. To expect less is to set a dangerous example for the youths of this country. It is common for us to tell the younger ones not to cheat, to obey the law and work hard, but it is easy to condone those who by alleged crockery ascend the perch of power? No! We should be intolerant towards such characters. Finally, we are committed to following this to the latter and will occupy the NASS if after 72hours the various authorities do not act. Thank you." Source: https://promptnewsonline.com/alleged-perjury-csos-threaten-to-occupy-nass-in-72hours-over-reps-deputy-speaker/