LPDC Dismisses Petition Against Deputy Speaker

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, after reviewing the allegations and determining that there was no basis for disciplinary action. The decision was contained in a certified document referenced BB/LPDC/1954/2026.

The petition was submitted by a lawyer, John Martins, who accused Kalu of taking part in the National Youth Service Corps programme while also attending the Nigerian Law School before he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2011.

Martins argued that the alleged dual participation violated provisions of the NYSC Act and involved false declarations that formed the foundation for Kalu’s call to the Bar on September 6, 2011. He also linked the claim to Kalu’s enrolment on the Roll of Legal Practitioners at the Supreme Court on October 5, 2011.

After examining the petition, the disciplinary body concluded that the complaint did not fall within its authority.

The committee explained that the statement of facts attached to the petition was not properly addressed according to the procedural rules guiding such applications. The document was directed to the Chairman of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee instead of the chairman of the LPDC.

Although the panel acknowledged the procedural error, it still reviewed the matter and found that the issues raised in the complaint related to alleged criminal conduct, including false declarations and claims of fraudulent enrolment as a legal practitioner. The committee noted that such allegations are not matters the LPDC is empowered to investigate.

The panel also observed that the alleged events occurred before Kalu was formally enrolled as a lawyer. It added that the disciplinary body does not have the power to investigate or question the activities of institutions such as the Nigerian Law School, the Council of Legal Education, the National Youth Service Corps, or the Body of Benchers.

According to the committee’s decision, the LPDC was created to handle issues concerning the conduct of lawyers in the course of their professional duties after they have been called to the Nigerian Bar. Since the petition did not present any misconduct linked to Kalu’s professional practice as a lawyer, the committee ruled that there was no case to pursue.

Based on its findings, the panel concluded that the petitioner failed to present evidence strong enough to require the Deputy Speaker to respond to the allegations. As a result, the complaint was dismissed.

Attempts to get a response from Kalu following the committee’s ruling were unsuccessful. Calls and text messages sent to him had not been answered at the time the report was filed.