ABUJA, Nigeria — A coalition of civil society organisations, led by the Civil Society Groups of Good Governance (CSGGG), has demanded the immediate resignation of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, over allegations of perjury and false representation.
Addressing a world press conference on Friday, March 6, 2026, the coalition’s president, Chief Dominic Ogakwu, issued a 72-hour ultimatum for the Deputy Speaker to step aside pending a thorough investigation into conflicting records regarding his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Nigerian Law School attendance.
The “Statutorily Impossible” Timeline
The coalition alleges that Kalu participated in the mandatory one-year NYSC program while simultaneously enrolled as a full-time student at the Nigerian Law School between 2010 and 2011.
According to the group, official records indicate:
- NYSC Service: Mobilised from March 9, 2010, to March 8, 2011 (Discharge Certificate No. A001773067).
- Law School Enrolment: Admitted into the Nigerian Law School on April 23, 2010, under the name Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu.
“It is statutorily impossible for him to engage in the NYSC and partake in full-time academic training at the Law School at the same time,” Ogakwu stated, noting that Law School policy strictly prohibits students from serving as corps members during their studies.
Key Demands for Accountability
The coalition has laid out four primary “prayers” for the relevant authorities:
- Resignation: Kalu should step down immediately to preserve the integrity of the office of the Deputy Speaker.
- Institutional Transparency: The NYSC and the Council of Legal Education must release Kalu’s attendance and service records to the public.
- Sanctions: If a breach of oath is confirmed, the group demands the immediate withdrawal of Kalu’s Call to Bar Certificate.
- Proof of Compliance: Kalu is challenged to provide evidence that he did not combine both programs simultaneously.
Kalu Rejects Calls to Step Down
In a swift response, the Deputy Speaker rejected the calls to resign, urging “due process” in the matter. While Kalu did not directly address the specific timeline discrepancies during his initial response, his office has previously indicated a willingness to cooperate with any competent authority requesting documentation.
Other groups, such as the Youth Renaissance for Good Governance (YRGG), have dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated,” citing a purported 2023 NYSC verification exercise that they claim cleared the Deputy Speaker of any wrongdoing.
The coalition warned that if no action is taken within the next 72 hours, they will mobilize to occupy the National Assembly.
–
Legal Implications: The NYSC Act and the “Statutorily Impossible” Defense
The core of the allegations against Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu rests on the strict statutory requirements of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act. Legal experts and civil society groups point to several specific provisions that make the alleged dual participation a significant legal liability.
- The Mandate for Continuous Service
Under Section 2(3) of the NYSC Act, every eligible Nigerian is required to serve for a “continuous period of one year”. The NYSC management has historically interpreted this as an uninterrupted commitment, ruling in 2016 that simultaneously attending Law School while serving is “illegal and unacceptable”.
- The Conflict: Law School requires 70% mandatory attendance for eligibility to sit for Bar Finals.
- The NYSC Requirement: Corps members must be present at their Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) and attend weekly Community Development Service (CDS) meetings.
- Legal Stance: The NYSC advises graduates to choose between the two, as attempting both constitutes a breach of the service contract.
- Penalties for False Representation and Forgery
The NYSC Act and Nigerian criminal codes carry stiff penalties for individuals who provide false information to obtain certificates:
- Jail Term for False Statements: Under the NYSC Decree, any person who “knowingly or recklessly makes a statement which is false” to the scheme is liable to a fine or imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
- Perjury: If a public official is found to have lied under oath (such as in the affidavits required for Law School enrolment), they could face prosecution for perjury under Section 118 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.
- Certificate Withdrawal: Proven cases of “fraudulent enrolment” can lead the Council of Legal Education to withdraw a “Call to Bar” certificate, effectively ending the individual’s legal career.
- Judicial Precedents: The “Mbah” and “Adeosun” Cases
The coalition’s demand for Kalu to step aside mirrors previous high-profile certificate scandals in Nigeria:
- The Peter Mbah Precedent: In 2023, the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, successfully defended his NYSC certificate in court by proving he had received official permission from the NYSC to pause his service to attend Law School before returning to complete it. The coalition argues that unless Kalu can produce similar written authorization, his records remain “statutorily impossible”.
- The Kemi Adeosun Case: Former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun was forced to resign in 2018 after it was revealed she had used a forged NYSC exemption certificate. This case established a strong precedent for public officials resigning when their NYSC credentials come under credible cloud.
As the 72-hour ultimatum progresses, the focus shifts to whether the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) will formalize the petition against the Deputy Speaker.
