• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said that allegations bothering on his participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and his attendance at the Nigeria Law School as unfounded. Kalu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Levinus Nwabughiogu, said he has never at any time been in form of forgery. A coalition, coalition led by the Civil Society Groups of Good Governance (CSGGG), had at at press briefing raised raised questions about the deputy speaker's participation in NYSC and attendance at the Law School. However, Kalu stated that similar allegations were raised against him during the 2023 general election, but were dismissed in legal proceedings. The statement read in part: "First and foremost, it must be clearly stated that the allegations being circulated remain unproven claims arising from a petition that has neither been substantiated nor determined by any competent authority. The Deputy Speaker remains a duly qualified legal practitioner and a respected public servant whose professional credentials have been examined at multiple stages of his career. "It is important to recall that Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2011 and subsequently enrolled as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a process governed by the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Law School with rigorous verification of academic and statutory requirements. "At no time since his call to the Bar has any competent legal authority invalidated his qualification or professional status. "Recent media reports indicate that the current controversy stems from a petition written by a former official of the Nigerian Bar Association requesting that the Legal Practitioners' Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) examine aspects of the Deputy Speaker's academic and service records. "The mere existence of a petition does not amount to proof of wrongdoing, and it would be deeply irresponsible to attempt to convict any individual in the court of public opinion. "The coalition's attempt to present speculation as established fact is therefore premature, misleading, and inconsistent with the principles of fairness and due process which civil society organisations themselves claim to defend. "Furthermore, several independent voices and civic organisations have already cautioned against the politicisation of the matter, describing the ongoing narrative as part of a coordinated smear campaign aimed at tarnishing the reputation of a rising national figure. "Indeed, a youth organisation recently stated that no verified official report exists indicting the Deputy Speaker and noted that previous verification exercises confirmed the validity of his NYSC certificate. "For emphasis, the Deputy Speaker has never forged any credentials or falsified any official record. Similar accusations were raised during previous political contests in 2023 and were dismissed in legal proceedings where he categorically affirmed the authenticity of his credentials. "It is therefore troubling that some groups have chosen to recycle unverified allegations at a time when the Deputy Speaker is deeply engaged in national legislative responsibilities." Source: https://thesun.ng/nysc-allegations-against-me-unsubstantiated-kalu/