JUST IN: Body of Benchers Rejects Petition Seeking Probe of Kalu’s Law School Certificate

Nigeria’s top legal regulatory body, the Body of Benchers, on Wednesday declined to accept a petition filed by a coalition of civil society organisations seeking an investigation into the Nigerian Law School certificate of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.

The petition was submitted at the Body of Benchers headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.

However, officials of the body rejected the document on procedural grounds. The group behind the petition was told that the complaint did not meet the required filing process.

Instead of receiving the petition formally, the regulatory body handed the coalition official forms. The group was directed to complete the documents and attach them to the petition before it could be considered.

The petition was delivered by a coalition known as Civil Society Groups for Good Governance. The team was led by its convener, Comrade Ogakwu Dominic. It was addressed to the chairman of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee under the provisions of the Legal Practitioners’ Act.

The civil society groups raised questions about the timeline of Kalu’s participation in the National Youth Service Corps and his attendance at the Nigerian Law School.

According to the petitioners, official records indicate that Kalu served in the National Youth Service Corps from March 9, 2010 to March 8, 2011. At the same time, they claimed he was enrolled at the Nigerian Law School’s Enugu Campus between April 23, 2010 and September 2011.

The coalition also pointed to a declaration allegedly signed by Kalu upon admission into the Law School. In the document, he reportedly stated that he would not be engaged in employment or participate in the NYSC during the period of his studies.

His declaration, as quoted in the petition, reads:
“I, Mr. Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu of 76 Factory Road, Umuahia, Abia State hereby declare on my honour that I am not and will not be engaged in any employment nor serve in the National Youth Service Corps during the period of my course at the Nigerian Law School.”

The group also questioned the long gap between Kalu’s undergraduate graduation and the period he allegedly attended the Law School. According to the petition, Kalu graduated from the University of Calabar in 1998.

The petitioners therefore asked: “How come that after a whole 12 years after graduation, Kalu’s alleged Youth Service and Law School happened concurrently?”

They urged the disciplinary body to review the matter thoroughly. The coalition said the legal profession must protect its integrity if any breach is discovered.

In the document, the group asked the Body of Benchers to “provide clarity as to how the Rt. Hon. Kalu could have effectively met the requirements of the Law School if indeed he actively participated by calling up his academic records.”

They added that if wrongdoing is confirmed, the body should “apply the appropriate sanctions to safeguard the prestige and sanctity of the Law Profession in Nigeria. To demonstrate that no Nigerian, a lawyer for that matter, is above the law when found culpable.”

The petition also referred to an earlier response from the Deputy Speaker’s office. It quoted the office as saying that “the allegations being circulated remain unproven claims arising from a petition that has neither been substantiated nor determined by any competent authority.”

Other civil society leaders who co-signed the petition include Amb. Agbonkpoior Splendour of the Initiative for Leadership and Economic Watch, Comrade Onomuodeke Patrick of the Centre for Peace, Transparency and Accountability, and Comrade Ofomhi Christopher of the Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative.

Copies of the petition were also sent to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who chairs the National Judicial Council, and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Speaking before attempting to submit the petition, Dominic said the coalition decided to take action because Nigerians deserve transparency from public officials.

“We are concerned as Nigerians because we cannot continue in this state. We want the Right Honourable Okeze Kalu Benjamin to come out clean on his certification. There are discrepancies on issues surrounding his certification, and there is need for him to clarify. Nigerians cannot be taken for granted all the time. It is our right, it is our duty to ensure that there’s transparency, there’s accountability. Because those are the elements and the ingredients of good governance.”

He warned that the group would not allow the matter to fade away.

“If he (Kalu) is thinking that this matter will be swept under the carpet, he’s totally wrong. If he thinks that this matter will become exhausted over time, he’s totally wrong. We are on a path, on a trajectory to ensure that our country is purged of bad leadership.”

After the petition was rejected, Dominic told journalists that the coalition would comply with the procedures given by the Body of Benchers and refile the petition.

“…this petition was rejected on grounds of due process. They are giving us series of forms, you can see this is a form that we have to fill out to be able to achieve our submission purpose, and so I want to inform you that we are not resting on our oars.”

He said the group had earlier issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Deputy Speaker to step aside while the allegations are investigated.

“Remember, we are giving the honourable member 72 hours to step aside so that due diligence and due process can be followed in clearing him of this saga. But not having done that, we thought it wise that for us to first barricade the national assembly to achieve our aim would not be very necessary, and we decided to come to the committee itself, which is responsible for disciplining lawyers.

“We are ready to go full swing on this matter. We are ready to exhaust all the resources within our reach. We are ready to ensure that the right thing is done at this point in time.”

He added that the issue could be resolved quickly if Kalu provides the necessary documents.

“The only thing that will save this situation is that if today, maybe immediately, if right honourable Benjamin Okeze Kalu can come out and show to Nigerians, produce his certifications in both NYSC and the Nigerian Law School to clear himself of this mess because we cannot continue on this scale. This scandal is not good for our national progress. It’s not good for our leadership recruitment process and the national assembly is not a place that should tolerate people who have discrepancies in their certification.”

“We will not ambush the law. We will not take advantage of the process. All we’ll do is to follow due process and ensure that the right thing is done.”

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker has previously dismissed calls for him to step aside over the allegations.

Responding through his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu described the claims as “unproven claims arising from a petition that has neither been substantiated nor determined by any competent authority.”

Nwabughiogu added that “at no time since his (Kalu’s) call to the Bar has any competent legal authority invalidated his qualification or professional status.”