Sponsors of Kalu’s Certificate Allegations Under Fire

The South-East Progressive Forum (SEPF), a prominent socio-political organization in South-East Nigeria, has formally requested that national security agencies identify and prosecute individuals allegedly sponsoring a coordinated blackmail campaign against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.

The call comes in response to recent social media narratives questioning the integrity of the Deputy Speaker’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate and his Nigerian Law School credentials.

In a comprehensive statement released on Monday, the forum characterized the allegations as a calculated attempt to derail the legislative agenda of the number six citizen of the Federal Republic.

Rt. Hon. Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency, emerged as Deputy Speaker in June 2023 with near-unanimous support from his colleagues in the 10th House of Representatives. As the highest-ranking political figure from the South-East under the current dispensation, the forum argues that he has become a target for those seeking to undermine the region’s political influence.

The controversy centers on a petition reportedly submitted to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) by an individual identified as John Aipkopko Martins.

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The petition alleges an “overlap” between Kalu’s mandatory NYSC service year and his attendance at the Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus, describing his subsequent enrollment on the Roll of Legal Practitioners at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as “fraudulent.” A group known as the “Abia Patriots” has been actively disseminating these claims across various digital platforms.

However, the South-East Progressive Forum has dismissed these allegations as politically motivated. The spokesperson for the group, Chief Ihuoma Okoronkwo, alleged that the “Abia Patriots” is an unregistered entity operating as an auxiliary of the Abia State Government.

According to Okoronkwo, the group’s activities since 2024 have focused exclusively on attacking the Deputy Speaker while simultaneously praising the state administration.

The forum suggests that the timing and nature of these attacks indicate a “paymaster” interested in local power struggles rather than professional integrity.

“Everybody in Abia knows that this group was conscripted specifically to target the Deputy Speaker,” Okoronkwo stated. “A search of their activities reveals nothing but attacks on Benjamin Kalu and unconditional praise for the State Governor. With such dubious antecedents, observers know they are agents acting on behalf of specific interests.”

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Addressing the technicalities of the allegations, the SEPF called for public calm, expressing full confidence in the professional independence of the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee.

The forum argued that professional overlaps in training and service are not uncommon in the legal and medical fields, often occurring when a candidate is mobilized for NYSC shortly before or after securing Law School admission.

They emphasized that Kalu’s credentials underwent rigorous scrutiny by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2019 and 2023 general elections, resulting in his clearance on both occasions.

The forum further highlighted Kalu’s legislative track record as evidence of his commitment to national service. Recently honored as “Lawmaker of the Year,” Kalu has sponsored approximately 127 bills within two years—a record-breaking feat in the Nigerian Parliament.

Beyond his primary legislative duties, the Deputy Speaker has been instrumental in advocating for infrastructure and developmental projects across the South-East and Nigeria at large.

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The SEPF warned that the persistent “local politics” and character assassination attempts could have broader negative implications.

They noted that as a presiding officer of the House of Representatives, Kalu’s influence extends across all 360 Federal Constituencies.

If discouraged by hostility from his home state, the forum suggested that the people of Abia could inadvertently suffer from a loss of federal focus and representation.

The statement concluded by urging the Deputy Speaker to remain steadfast and not allow “jobless miscreants” to distract him from his executive plans for the Ndigbo people and the Nigerian populace.

The forum reiterated that no amount of social media “fireworks” would diminish the Deputy Speaker’s standing among his colleagues or his reputation as a “fine parliamentarian.” They called on security agencies to ensure that the digital space is not used as a tool for state-sponsored character assassination against high-ranking federal officials.

As the LPDC prepares to review the petition, the South-East Progressive Forum maintains that the professional body will uphold the highest standards of the legal profession, free from external political compromise. For now, the group insists that the focus should remain on the Deputy Speaker’s legislative sagacity and the tangible dividends of democracy he continues to provide for his constituents.