The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, has rejected claims of irregularities in his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service and Nigerian Law School attendance made by a coalition of Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG).
In a statement, Kalu’s office described the allegations as “unproven claims” and “politically coloured narratives” aimed at undermining his reputation.
“The Office has noted a press conference by a coalition led by CSGGG, which raised questions about the Deputy Speaker’s NYSC participation and Law School credentials. While ordinarily speculative claims would not warrant a response, we address this in the interest of public clarity and to counter deliberate misinformation,” the statement said.
The office emphasized that Kalu’s professional qualifications have been verified multiple times throughout his career and that he remains a fully qualified legal practitioner. Similar allegations had been raised during the 2023 political contests but were dismissed in legal proceedings affirming the authenticity of his credentials.
On calls for him to step down, the office warned that yielding to unverified claims would set a “dangerous precedent” for politically motivated attacks on public officials.
“The Deputy Speaker has full confidence in the integrity of Nigerian institutions and will cooperate with any competent authority that seeks clarification or documentation. Nigeria remains a constitutional democracy, and allegations must be investigated by proper authorities, not adjudicated through media trials,” the statement added.
Kalu’s office also rejected ultimatums and threats of protests by some groups as attempts to coerce public institutions. It urged Nigerians to allow statutory bodies to examine any petitions and continue supporting the Deputy Speaker as he focuses on legislative reforms, national development, and strengthening democratic institutions.
“Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu remains fully committed to serving the nation with integrity and transparency,” the statement concluded.
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