 |
A fresh legal controversy has erupted around the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, following a petition challenging the legality of his enrolment as a legal practitioner and the authenticity of his participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
According to a report by Thenigerialawyers, a former
First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. John
Aikpokpo-Martins, has formally petitioned the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary
Committee (LPDC), alleging what he described as “fraudulent enrolment” on the
Roll of Legal Practitioners maintained at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
At the centre of the petition is an alleged overlap
between Kalu’s NYSC service year and his attendance at the Nigerian Law School,
Enugu Campus.
The petitioner contends that Kalu was mobilised for
NYSC from March 9, 2010 to March 8, 2011, while simultaneously attending the
Nigerian Law School between April 23, 2010 and July 1, 2011.
Aikpokpo-Martins argues that such dual participation
would contravene Section 2(3) of the NYSC Act, which mandates a continuous
one-year national service. He maintains that it is “statutorily impossible” for
a corps member to lawfully undertake full-time academic training during the
subsistence of the service year.
The petition further references what is described as a
strict policy of the Nigerian Law School and the Council of Legal Education
prohibiting students from serving in the NYSC during their period of study.
In an affidavit deposed before the LPDC, the
petitioner alleges that Kalu—who reportedly enrolled at the Law School under
the name Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu before subsequent changes of name—made a
formal declaration on April 23, 2010, affirming that he was not and would not
engage in employment or serve in the NYSC during his course of study.
However, documentary evidence attached to the
petition, including NYSC Certificate of National Service No. A001773067
allegedly issued on March 8, 2011, is said to indicate continuous participation
in the scheme within the same timeframe.
The petitioner asserts that this raises fundamental
questions as to whether the Deputy Speaker satisfied the mandatory 70 percent
attendance requirement at the Nigerian Law School—a prerequisite for
certification by the Council of Legal Education and subsequent Call to Bar.
Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar on September 6,
2011, and enrolled at the Supreme Court with enrolment number SCN/078630.
The petition invokes several provisions of the NYSC
Act, including Sections 13(1)(b), 13(3), and 13(4), which prescribe penalties
for failure to serve continuously, aiding contraventions, or making false
statements in connection with the scheme.
Under Section 11(1)(c) of the Legal Practitioners Act,
the LPDC is empowered to discipline any legal practitioner found guilty of
infamous conduct in a professional respect.
Aikpokpo-Martins has also written to the
Director-General of the NYSC, urging the withdrawal of the alleged Certificate
of National Service and calling for prosecution if breaches are established.
He further disclosed plans to apply for subpoenas
compelling the production of official records from both the NYSC and the
Nigerian Law School, including call-up letters, attendance registers, allowance
payment records, and discharge documentation.
The petitioner insists that the matter transcends
politics and strikes at the core of professional ethics and institutional
integrity.
“The exalted position he presently occupies must
showcase the highest standards of integrity, transparency and adherence to the
law,” he stated.
Senior lawyers who spoke on the development emphasised
that the LPDC possesses jurisdiction to investigate allegations of professional
misconduct, including fraudulent enrolment, where properly substantiated.
However, they cautioned that the claims remain allegations pending formal
inquiry and evidentiary scrutiny.
As of press time, there has been no official response
from Hon. Kalu regarding the petitions. Neither the NYSC nor the LPDC has
publicly confirmed whether investigations have commenced.
The unfolding controversy places renewed focus on
statutory compliance, professional standards, and the expectations of integrity
for holders of high public office.
Culled from All Facts Newspaper.
0 Comments
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed on this platform as comments were freely made by each person under his or her own volition or responsibility and were neither suggested nor dictated by the owners of News PLATFORM or any of their contracted staff. So we take no liability whatsoever for such comments.
Please take note!