Protesters under the aegis of Civil Society Groups for Good
Governance (CSGGG), on Wednesday, criticised the Legal
Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
The group’s disposition followed what it described as a
“continued failure, refusal and neglect” by the committee
to act on a petition against the Deputy Speaker of House of
Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
The controversy centres on petition BB/LPDC/1948/2026,
filed on January 20, 2026, by John Aikpokpo Martins,
Esq., where he alleged significant inconsistencies
regarding Kalu’s National Youth Service Corps NYSC
service year and his period of enrollment at the Nigerian
Law School’s Enugu Campus.
Members of the coalition, who stormed the premises of the
Body of Benchers in Abuja, carried placards with various
inscriptions such as “Integrity First; Verify Before You
Lead”, “Show Your Certificate, Benjamin Kalu”; “No More
Foolery, Submit Your Certificate”; “Transparency Now,
Show Your Certificate”; and, “The Law Applies to
Everyone Including You”, among others.
CSGGG maintained that these allegations strike at the very
root of the Deputy Speaker’s professional standing and the
integrity of his admission to the Nigerian Bar.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the LPDC
Chairman, convener of the CSOs, Chief Dominic Ogakwu
argued that the committee’s silence suggests that certain
individuals may be considered “beyond scrutiny.”
“The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee exists
precisely to safeguard the integrity and credibility of the
legal profession. Its responsibilities are not discretionary
exercises to be undertaken only when convenient; they are
statutory duties imposed by law,” he stated.
The group expressed concern that the lack of transparency
in handling a matter involving a high-ranking public
official is rapidly eroding public trust in the nation’s
disciplinary institutions.
The CSOs warned that continued inaction would force the
public to pursue alternative lawful measures, including
sustained civic engagement and intensified public
advocacy; judicial proceedings to compel the committee to
discharge its legal obligations; and, a formal review of the
committee’s continued relevance if it is perceived to have
outlived its usefulness.
The CSGGG emphasized that as a pillar of constitutional
democracy, the legal profession must be governed by
institutions that command absolute respect.
It urged the LPDC to act decisively on the pending petition
to prevent a total collapse of confidence in the disciplinary
system.