By our Correspondent
A coalition of civil society organisations has dismissed allegations surrounding the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Nigerian Law School records of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, describing them as politically motivated and lacking factual basis.
The group, operating under the platform of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace, Security, Good Governance, Equity and Justice (CCSG-PSGEJ), said its independent review of the claims revealed no wrongdoing on the part of the Deputy Speaker.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the coalition, Comrade James Okoronkwo, said the allegations amounted to a “media trial” aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the federal lawmaker.
According to him, available records show that the National Youth Service Corps had already conducted a verification exercise in 2023 which reaffirmed the authenticity of Kalu’s discharge certificate.
He further noted that Kalu’s legal credentials remain valid, stressing that the process of being called to the Nigerian Bar is strictly regulated by the Council of Legal Education and formalised by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Okoronkwo said the Deputy Speaker’s legal career, which has spanned nearly 15 years and survived multiple electoral screenings, could not be invalidated by what he described as “rogue petitions and recycled political narratives.”
“The attempt to reopen technical timelines dating back to 2010 in order to question the credentials of a sitting Deputy Speaker is not only archaic but legally frivolous,” he said.
The coalition also cautioned the Abia State Government against allegedly sponsoring media campaigns targeted at the lawmaker.
Okoronkwo urged Governor Alex Otti to prioritise governance and the welfare of Abia residents rather than what he termed “unnecessary media engagements aimed at discrediting a high-ranking son of the state.”
According to him, scarce public resources should instead be channelled towards addressing pressing development challenges such as road rehabilitation and the payment of outstanding gratuities to retirees.
The coalition also described Kalu as a strategic political asset for the South-East, pointing to his role in the establishment of the South East Development Commission as well as his efforts in facilitating federal infrastructure and housing interventions in the region.
While declaring a vote of confidence in the Deputy Speaker, the group warned against what it called the growing trend of “trial by social media,” insisting that allegations against public officials should be addressed through lawful and institutional channels.
Okoronkwo stressed that civil society organisations would continue to resist attempts to undermine democratic institutions and public office holders through misinformation and politically motivated attacks.