According to a report by Thenigerialawyers, a former First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins, has petitioned the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) over what he describes as a “fraudulent enrolment” on the Roll of Legal Practitioners maintained at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
At the centre of the petition is an alleged overlap between Hon. Kalu’s NYSC service year and his attendance at the Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus.
The petitioner claims that Kalu was mobilised for NYSC from March 9, 2010, to March 8, 2011, while also attending the Nigerian Law School from April 23, 2010, to July 1, 2011. According to Aikpokpo-Martins, this dual participation would violate Section 2(3) of the NYSC Act, which mandates an uninterrupted one-year national service.
He further argues that it is statutorily impossible for a corps member to lawfully undergo full-time academic training while actively serving in the NYSC scheme. The petition also references the alleged strict policy of the Nigerian Law School and the Council of Legal Education, which reportedly prohibits students from serving in the NYSC during their period of study.
In an affidavit before the LPDC, the petitioner alleges that Kalu—who reportedly enrolled at the Law School under the name Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu before a subsequent change of name—made a formal declaration on April 23, 2010, affirming that he was not engaged and would not engage in employment or NYSC service during his course of study.
However, documents attached to the petition, including an NYSC Certificate of National Service allegedly issued on March 8, 2011, are said to indicate continuous participation in the scheme within the same timeframe.
Aikpokpo-Martins insists that this discrepancy raises serious questions about whether the Deputy Speaker met the mandatory 70 percent attendance requirement at the Nigerian Law School, a prerequisite for certification by the Council of Legal Education and eventual Call to Bar.
Hon. Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar on September 6, 2011, and subsequently enrolled at the Supreme Court with enrolment number SCN/078630.
The petition cites Sections 13(1)(b), 13(3), and 13(4) of the NYSC Act, which prescribe penalties for failure to serve continuously, aiding contraventions, or making false declarations related to the scheme. It also invokes Section 11(1)(c) of the Legal Practitioners Act, empowering the LPDC to discipline any lawyer found guilty of infamous conduct in a professional capacity.
Beyond the LPDC, the petitioner disclosed that he has written to the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, calling for the withdrawal of the disputed certificate and prosecution if any breach is established. He also revealed plans to seek subpoenas compelling the production of official records from both the NYSC and the Nigerian Law School, including call-up letters, attendance registers, allowance payment records, and discharge documents.
According to Aikpokpo-Martins, the issue goes beyond politics and strikes at the heart of professional ethics and institutional integrity.
“The exalted position he presently occupies must showcase the highest standards of integrity, transparency and adherence to the law,” he stated.
Senior lawyers familiar with the matter noted that the LPDC has jurisdiction to investigate allegations of professional misconduct, including fraudulent enrolment, provided they are properly substantiated. However, they cautioned that the claims remain allegations until a formal inquiry and evidentiary review are concluded.
As of press time, Hon. Kalu has not issued an official response to the petition. Neither the NYSC nor the LPDC has publicly confirmed whether investigations have commenced.
The unfolding controversy once again places the spotlight on statutory compliance, professional accountability, and the expectations of integrity placed on holders of high public office in Nigeria.
Source: All Facts Newspaper
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