The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed claims that Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) while attending the Nigerian Law School, ruling that no prima facie case was established.
The decision followed a petition submitted by lawyer John Aikpokpo Martins, who requested an investigation into Kalu’s participation in NYSC and attendance at the Law School.
In a report certified on March 11, 2026 (Reference BB/LPDC/1954/2026), the disciplinary committee concluded that the complaint fell outside its jurisdiction. The report, titled “Facts and Summary of Complaint,” was issued by LPDC Registrar Zibai Katung and signed by the Chairman of the Petition Panel, Umeh Kalu (SAN).
The panel noted that the LPDC regulates the professional conduct of lawyers after they have been called to the Nigerian Bar. Since the alleged incidents occurred before Kalu was called to the Bar, the matter was beyond the committee’s mandate.
The report also clarified that the LPDC does not have authority over the operations of the Nigerian Law School, the Council of Legal Education, the NYSC, or the Body of Benchers.
“In the circumstance, I find that the Applicant has not adduced any prima facie evidence to warrant the Respondent being invited to respond to the complaint,” the report stated.
The panel concluded that the complaint was outside the LPDC’s jurisdiction and dismissed the petition, effectively clearing Deputy Speaker Kalu of the allegations.
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