ABIA, Nigeria — The South-East Progressive Forum (SEPF) has called on national security agencies to identify and prosecute individuals allegedly orchestrating a blackmail campaign against Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The appeal follows social media narratives questioning the integrity of Kalu’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate and Nigerian Law School credentials.
Allegations Viewed as Politically Motivated
In a statement released on Monday, SEPF described the allegations as a calculated effort to derail the legislative agenda of the number six citizen of the Federal Republic. Kalu, representing Bende Federal Constituency, assumed office as Deputy Speaker in June 2023 with near-unanimous support in the 10th House of Representatives.
The controversy centers on a petition reportedly submitted to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) by John Aipkopko Martins. The petition alleges an overlap between Kalu’s NYSC service and his attendance at the Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus, describing his subsequent enrollment on the Roll of Legal Practitioners at the Supreme Court as “fraudulent.”
A group known as the “Abia Patriots” has been actively circulating these claims across social media platforms.
Forum Defends Kalu’s Integrity
SEPF dismissed the claims as politically driven. Chief Ihuoma Okoronkwo, the group’s spokesperson, alleged the “Abia Patriots” is an unregistered entity operating as an extension of the Abia State Government.
“Everybody in Abia knows that this group was conscripted specifically to target the Deputy Speaker. Their activities show nothing but attacks on Benjamin Kalu and praise for the State Governor. Observers know they are agents acting on behalf of specific interests,” Okoronkwo stated.
The forum emphasized that overlaps in training and service are not unusual in the legal and medical professions. Kalu’s credentials were previously scrutinized and cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2019 and 2023 general elections.
Highlighting Legislative Achievements
SEPF also pointed to Kalu’s record in the House, noting that he has sponsored approximately 127 bills in two years and was recently honored as “Lawmaker of the Year.” His legislative initiatives have contributed to infrastructure and development projects across the South-East and Nigeria at large.
“No amount of social media fireworks can diminish the Deputy Speaker’s standing or reputation as a fine parliamentarian,” the forum said.
Call for Calm and Security Oversight
The forum warned that politically motivated attacks could negatively affect the South-East’s federal representation. SEPF urged security agencies to ensure social media and other digital platforms are not used for state-sponsored character assassination against high-ranking federal officials.
The LPDC is expected to review the petition, and SEPF expressed confidence that the professional body will act independently, upholding the highest standards of the legal profession.
