Vice President denies allegations of wrongdoing at NYSC and law school, insists on unproven allegations

Vice President denies allegations of wrongdoing at NYSC and law school, insists on unproven allegations

The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has dismissed allegations regarding his participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and attendance at the Nigerian Law School, describing the claims as unproven and politically colored narratives.

In a statement released by Kalu’s chief press officer, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the Office said it would not normally respond to speculative allegations, but chose to address the issue to prevent what it described as deliberate disinformation from gaining public attention.

According to the statement, the allegations were raised during a press conference organized by a coalition led by Civil Society Good Governance Groups (CSGGG), but the Office maintained that the claims remain unfounded and have not been determined by any competent authority.

The Office of the Vice President stressed that Kalu remains a duly qualified legal professional whose professional credentials have come under scrutiny at various stages of his career.

He noted that Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar Association in September 2011 and subsequently registered as a legal practitioner at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a process overseen by the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Law School, which involves rigorous verification of academic and statutory requirements.

“At no time since he was appointed as a lawyer has any competent legal authority invalidated his qualification or professional status,” the statement read.

The Office explained that the current controversy stems from a petition reportedly written by a former official of the Nigerian Bar Association, requesting that the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) and the “National Youth Service Corps” examine aspects of the Vice President’s academic and service records.

However, he stressed that the existence of a petition does not constitute evidence of wrongdoing and warned against attempts to convict individuals in the court of public opinion.

“The coalition’s attempt to present speculation as established fact is premature, misleading and inconsistent with the principles of fairness and due process that civil society organizations themselves claim to uphold,” the statement read.

The Office also said the renewed allegations appear to be part of a coordinated effort to tarnish the vice president’s reputation, noting that similar allegations surfaced during the 2023 political races but were dismissed during legal proceedings.

He further said that there is no verified official report incriminating Kalu, adding that previous verification exercises have confirmed the validity of his NYSC certificate.

“To emphasize, the Vice President has never forged any credentials or falsified any official documents,” the statement read.

Reiterating its position, the Office highlighted several key points, including respect for due process, the presumption of innocence and the rejection of what it described as attempts at political blackmail through threats of protest and ultimatums.

The statement adds that Kalu remains focused on his legislative responsibilities and national development efforts as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He warned that calls for the vice president to step aside based on unverified allegations could set a dangerous precedent that could encourage politically motivated petitions against public officials.

The Office therefore urged the public to ignore attempts to politicize the issue and to allow the relevant statutory institutions to consider any petitions submitted to them in accordance with the law.

“The Honorable Benjamin Okezie Kalu will continue to carry out his duties with integrity, transparency and steadfast commitment to the Nigerian people,” the statement concluded.