A coalition under the banner of Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) has urged the Council of Legal Education to resist mounting pressure and proceed with its investigation into the law school qualifying certificate of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
The groupâs position follows a request by Kaluâs solicitors to the Nigeria Law School to dishonour a request in a petition seeking the withdrawal of the certificate qualifying him as a lawyer.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the coalitionâs President, Comrade Ogakwu Dominic, commended the Council for constituting the investigative panel and taking the petition seriously. He, however, cautioned against any attempt to derail the process.
âThe Council must remain resolute and ensure that this investigation is carried through to its logical conclusion,â Dominic said, while calling on the committee to stay focused despite the legal objections raised by the Deputy Speakerâs legal team.
The Council had, at its sitting on April 17, 2026, set up the committee to probe the matter, and followed up with a letter dated April 21, 2026, directing Kalu to submit a written response within seven days to aid the inquiry.
In response, Kaluâs solicitors, Olaniwun Ajayi LP, in a letter dated April 28, 2026, described the petition as âfundamentally deficient in lawâ and urged the Council to dismiss it.
The legal team cited three grounds: âthe absence of any vitiating criminal conduct, the petitionerâs reliance on an unsworn declaration, and the absence of any legal prohibition on simultaneous participation in the NYSC and Nigerian Law School programmes.â
They further argued that the Council lacks express statutory authority to withdraw or cancel a qualifying certificate once issued, warning that such action would amount to a penal measure requiring strict adherence to constitutional safeguards under sections 36(8) and 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution.
While acknowledging Kaluâs right to defend himself, the coalition maintained that the Council retains sufficient powers under the Legal Education (Consolidation, etc.) Act to investigate allegations of false representation in the procurement of qualifying certificates
The group expressed concern that the Deputy Speakerâs response appeared to focus more on challenging the Councilâs jurisdiction than addressing the substance of the allegations.
âIt is important that technical arguments do not derail a process that has already been legitimately set in motion,â the group said, urging the committee to proceed with its mandate.
The CSGGG also raised alarm over reports that Kalu may seek a court injunction to halt the investigation, describing such a move as an attempt to deploy the judiciary to frustrate a statutory process.
In a broader appeal, the coalition called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to publicly reaffirm that no public official, regardless of office, is above institutional scrutiny.
The Council of Legal Education has declined public comment on the matter. Its Secretary and Director of Administration, Ms. Aderonke O. Osho, confirmed that a letter was sent to Kalu but said the probe would be handled privately.
She also declined to state whether a response had been received before the expiration of the deadline.
Kalu, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2011 and enrolled as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He maintains that no competent legal authority has at any time invalidated his qualification or professional status.