LPDC Judgment: Group Hails Kalu’s Exoneration, Cautions Against Blackmailing Political Leaders

A foremost parliamentary group in Nigeria, the Parliamentary Advocacy Network (PAN), has lauded the landmark verdict of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) over the allegation of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Nigeria Law School overlap involving the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.

The LPDC on Wednesday dismissed a petition brought before it by Barr. John Aikpokpo Martins, alleging that Kalu committed infractions by serving his NYSC and attending the Nigerian Law School concurrently.

However, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, while dismissing the petition, stated that “no prima facie case has been established,” noting that there was no need to distract the Deputy Speaker with an invitation over what it described as a baseless allegation.

Reacting yesterday in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Amb. Anderson Osiebe, the Parliamentary Advocacy Network commended the legal panel for not “indulging the traducers and blackmailers” of Kalu but rather handling the petition professionally and with a sense of patriotism.

“The panel deserves commendation for not indulging the traducers and blackmailers of the Deputy Speaker, whose ulterior motive was to distract a fine lawmaker who is making Nigeria proud internationally. The sense of professionalism and patriotism demonstrated by members of the panel is worthy of acknowledgement by all Nigerians,” the statement said.

Osiebe frowned at the petitioner and a group promoting the narrative on social media, Abia Patriots, warning them to desist from distracting successful public office holders with frivolous allegations and unnecessary social media attacks.

PAN stated that political stakeholders in Abia State, from the governor to the least public office holder, should be proud of the Deputy Speaker, whom it described as the highest political office holder from the South-East and an envy of many Nigerians.

“Those of us who are not from the South-East are always envious of the people of the zone each time we see His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, LL.D, CFR, in the chamber presiding or representing Nigeria at official forums abroad. He is the biggest export of Ndigbo under this dispensation. The people are indeed very lucky to have such a worthy ambassador,” the statement noted.

The group expressed concern that despite Kalu’s achievements and growing international reputation due to his legislative and leadership prowess, some individuals from his home state allegedly sponsor social media attacks against him.

“At first, we thought the petition was something we could devote time to analysing. But when we saw a faceless group, Abia Patriots, promoting it, we knew it was one of their usual antics from Abia Government House,” the group alleged.

PAN further claimed it had been monitoring the activities of the group since 2024, describing it as an alleged support platform for the Abia State Government.

“The only activities traceable to the group on social media are countless posts promoting the governor and numerous posts attacking the respected Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives. Even a kindergarten pupil can easily summarise the aims and objectives of Abia Patriots,” the statement added.

The group therefore cautioned Abia Patriots and its associates to channel their energy into productive ventures that would contribute to the development of the state rather than being used as tools for political blackmail or the settling of political scores.

PAN, while congratulating the Deputy Speaker over the clean bill of health handed to him by the legal panel, urged Kalu to forgive his critics in the spirit of the Lenten and Ramadan seasons currently being observed by Nigerians.

It also appealed to the Deputy Speaker not to consider taking the petitioner or promoters of the allegation to court, noting that he continues to enjoy the goodwill of lawmakers in the 10th National Assembly, the parliamentary community, and Nigerians both at home and abroad.