Abuja, Nigeria – March 5, 2026 – Pressure is mounting on the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, following fresh calls by a leading South-East youth socio-political group for an independent investigation into allegations surrounding his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Nigerian Law School records.
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has issued a strong demand for a transparent probe by the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) and the NYSC, warning that any attempt to suppress the investigation would be met with lawful civic actions.
The controversy stems from a petition written by Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins, a former First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to both the LPDC and the NYSC. In separate letters dated February 2026, Aikpokpo-Martins requested a review of records relating to Kalu’s time at the Nigerian Law School and his NYSC service year .
According to the petition, Kalu was mobilised for NYSC service from March 9, 2010 to March 8, 2011, while also attending the Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus, between April 23, 2010 and July 1, 2011. The petitioner contended that Section 2(3) of the NYSC Act provides for a continuous one-year national service and argued that this requirement may be incompatible with full-time academic training within the same period .
The petition further claimed that policies of the Nigerian Law School and the Council of Legal Education prohibit students from participating in the NYSC during their course of study. Aikpokpo-Martins also referenced an affidavit indicating that Kalu, who was admitted into the Nigerian Law School under the name Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu before effecting a change of name, declared at the point of admission that he was not engaged in NYSC and would not undertake employment during his period of study .
The petitioner urged the LPDC to determine whether all statutory requirements had been met before Kalu’s admission to the Roll of Legal Practitioners at the Supreme Court .
In a statement signed by its President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Okey Nwaoru, COSEYL described the allegations as “grave” and warned that they must not be ignored, politicised, or swept under the carpet .
“The allegations, which question the validity of the Deputy Speaker’s enrolment as a legal practitioner and the authenticity of his participation in the NYSC scheme, are grave and touch on the integrity of key national institutions, including the Nigerian Law School, the Council of Legal Education, and the NYSC,” the group stated .
COSEYL called for:
1. Immediate, transparent, and independent investigation by the LPDC into the issues raised in the petition
2. A thorough probe by the NYSC authorities to ascertain the authenticity of all relevant records
3. Public release of findings upon conclusion of the investigations
Most significantly, the group advised Kalu to step aside from his position pending the outcome of these investigations. “This is not a declaration of guilt, but a necessary step to ensure that the process is free from any perception of interference or undue influence. In advanced democracies, public officials temporarily relinquish their offices when serious allegations arise in order to preserve the sanctity of the institutions they serve. Nigeria should not be an exception,” the statement read .
COSEYL warned that should there be any attempt to frustrate or suppress a fair investigation, it would be left with no option but to mobilize lawful and peaceful civic actions to demand accountability, including potential protests at the National Assembly and Aso Rock .
In response to the allegations, several groups have come to Kalu’s defence, dismissing the petition as “frivolous, mischievous, and politically motivated” .
The Igbo Mandate Movement Group, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Igboeli Arinze Napoleon, said the petition follows a pattern of credential challenges that have trailed Kalu at every stage of his rise. The group noted that similar allegations had been made when Kalu was nominated as a Commissioner in Abia State and when he sought election to represent Bende Federal Constituency .
On the substance of the allegations, the group provided context for Kalu’s 2010 service year:
– Kalu graduated from the University of Calabar in 1998 but faced a backlog in Law School admissions as the institution then operated only two campuses in Lagos and Abuja
– Upon returning to Nigeria and being mobilised for NYSC in 2010, he was posted to Enugu North Local Government Area and served in the office of the Chairman
– He participated fully in camp activities, emerged as a Platoon Leader, and was decorated with the Citizenship and Leadership Award
– His long-awaited Law School admission placed him at the Enugu Campus in Agbani, just thirty minutes from his NYSC post
– He organised his schedule to discharge his LGA duties while attending Law School classes, met all NYSC clearance requirements, and exceeded the mandatory 70% Law School attendance threshold
The group argued that laws are not retroactive in nature and that any NYSC declarations critics seek to invoke are prospective, applying to future conduct rather than Kalu’s 2010 service.
The controversy has also taken on political undertones, with some groups suggesting the allegations are sponsored by interests within Abia State. The South East Progressive Forum (SEPF) accused a group known as Abia Patriots of being at the forefront of the social media campaign against Kalu, allegedly acting at the behest of the Abia State government .
SEPF spokesperson Chief Ihuoma Okoronkwo described the allegations as a “politically motivated smear campaign” aimed at weakening Kalu’s rising influence. “Everybody in Abia knows that the group, which was not registered anywhere before now, was conscripted to attack the deputy speaker in 2024. If you Google Abia Patriots, the only things you would see about them are those attacks on Benjamin Kalu,” Okoronkwo stated .
The forum urged Nigerians to allow the LPDC — described as an independent and professional regulatory body — to handle the matter without external pressure, stressing that no governor or political actor could compromise the integrity of the disciplinary committee .
Supporters have highlighted Kalu’s legislative achievements, including sponsoring 127 bills within two years — a record recognized with the Lawmaker of the Year award — and various impactful projects across the South East and Nigeria . They argue that no amount of blackmail or social media attacks will deter the Deputy Speaker from performing his lawful duties .
As of the time of this report, no official response has been issued by Kalu’s office regarding the specific allegations or the calls for him to step aside . The LPDC and NYSC have also not publicly indicated whether any formal investigation has commenced .
The situation presents a critical test for Nigeria’s regulatory institutions as they navigate serious allegations against a high-ranking public official. Whether the LPDC and NYSC will initiate investigations, and whether Kalu will heed calls to temporarily step aside, remains to be seen. What is clear is that the pressure on the Deputy Speaker is not abating, and the coming weeks will be crucial in determining the trajectory of this controversy.
