Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed allegations of overlap in the participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and attendance of Nigeria Law School by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, saying there is no prima facie case established against him.
It will be recalled that one John Aikpokpo Martins recently petitioned the LPDC, calling for an investigation into Kalu’s NYSC participation and Nigeria Law School attendance.
In the Certifed True Copy (CTC) of the report with the code BB/LPDC/1954/2026 dated March 11, 2026, titled “Facts and Summary of Complaint” and issued by the Registrar of LPDC, Zibai Katung, the LPDC through the Chairman of the Petition Panel, Chief Umeh Kalu (SAN), dismissed the allegations, saying the Deputy Speaker has no case to answer.
“The LPDC is strictly a body setup to regulate the conduct of persons called to the Nigerian Bar in the discharge of their professional duties to members of the Public. See Section 10 of the Legal Practitioners Act. This complaint, from the facts, is definitely not one for the consideration of the LPDC. The LPDC cannot interrogate the operations of the Nigerian Law School, the Council of Legal Education, the NYSC and the Body of Benchers. The Respondent at the time that the Applicant alleged his commission of the referenced infractions had not been called to the Bar.
“The Respondent can only come under the inquisitorial review of the LPDC over his conduct upon being called and enrolled to the Bar and such conduct must be one done in a professional capacity.
“In the circumstance, I find that the Applicant has not adduced any prima facie evidence from the facts contained in his Application, to warrant the Respondent being invited to respond to the complaint.
“This complaint is way off the concise jurisdiction of the LPDC as provided by the enabling Act. No prima facie case Is established, I so find”, the report stated.
Signed:
Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
