Deputy Speaker Kalu denies certificate forgery, says allegations politically motivated

Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, has refuted accusations that he falsified his academic credentials, calling them unsubstantiated and politically driven.

In response to accusations made by a coalition of civil society organisations over his involvement in the National Youth Service Corps and attendance at the Nigerian Law School, Kalu provided the clarification in a statement released on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu.

The group, headed by the Civil Society Groups of Good Governance, had previously claimed that the Deputy Speaker’s NYSC service record and legal training were flawed. If authorities did not take action, the coalition threatened to take over the National Assembly within 72 hours.

The Deputy Speaker’s office responded by stating that the accusations were founded on a petition that had not been verified or decided by any appropriate authority.

It further stated that the accusations were “unproven claims arising from a petition that has neither been substantiated nor determined by any competent authority.”

The statement emphasised that Kalu is still a licensed attorney whose credentials have undergone multiple levels of verification over the course of his career.

“It is important to recall that Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2011 and subsequently enrolled as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a process governed by the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Law School with rigorous verification of academic and statutory requirements,” the statement said.

The Deputy Speaker’s office further stated that no legal authority had at any time invalidated his qualifications since his call to the bar.

“At no time since his call to the Bar has any competent legal authority invalidated his qualification or professional status,” the statement added.

The issue started after a former Nigerian Bar Association official allegedly wrote a petition asking the NYSC and the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee to look into Kalu’s service and academic records.

The Deputy Speaker’s office however countered that the presence of a petition did not prove misconduct.