LPDC dismisses complaint against Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu
The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed a complaint against Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, citing a lack of prima facie evidence.
A certified copy of the committee’s ruling, referenced as BB/LPDC/1954/2026, was provided to the media, effectively concluding the case. The ruling, signed by Umeh Kalu, SAN, a senior member of the LPDC panel, favored the respondent.
In its ruling, the LPDC panel stated that the complaint was fundamentally flawed, both in procedure and substance. The panel highlighted that the Statement of Facts had been incorrectly directed to the Chairman of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, rather than to the Chairman of the LPDC, as mandated by Rule 4 of the LPDC Rules, 2020.
“While we chose to overlook this error, it could not rescue the complaint on merit,” the panel noted.
Regarding allegations connected to Kalu’s participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), his training at the Nigerian Law School, and his enrollment at the Supreme Court, the LPDC stated these matters fell outside its jurisdiction.
“The LPDC is established solely to regulate the professional conduct of enrolled legal practitioners in the discharge of their duties to the public, as provided under Section 10 of the Legal Practitioners Act,” the ruling emphasized.
The panel also noted that it does not possess the authority to examine the operations of the Nigerian Law School, the Council of Legal Education, the NYSC, or the Body of Benchers. Furthermore, the alleged infractions, if true, occurred before Kalu was called to the Bar, placing them beyond the LPDC’s scope.
The complaint had originally been filed by Barr. John Aikpokpo Martins, who accused Kalu—formerly known as Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu—of participating in the NYSC while simultaneously attending the Nigerian Law School, allegedly violating the NYSC Act. Martins further claimed that this dual participation constituted false declarations, which he argued were the basis for Kalu’s call to the Bar on September 6, 2011, and subsequent enrollment on the Roll of Legal Practitioners at the Supreme Court of Nigeria on October 5, 2011.
