Abuja witnessed heightened civic activism on Wednesday as protesters under the umbrella of the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) formally issued a vote of no confidence in the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
The protest was triggered by what the coalition described as the committee’s “continued failure, refusal, and neglect” to act on a petition involving the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
The petition, BB/LPDC/1948/2026, was filed on January 20, 2026, by John Aikpokpo Martins, Esq., alleging inconsistencies in Kalu’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service year and his enrollment period at the Nigerian Law School’s Enugu Campus.
Protesters carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Integrity First; Verify Before You Lead,” “Show Your Certificate, Benjamin Kalu,” and “The Law Applies to Everyone Including You” rallied outside the Body of Benchers in Abuja.
Chief Dominic Ogakwu, convener of the coalition, stressed in a letter to the LPDC Chairman that the committee’s inaction undermines public confidence and gives the impression that some individuals are “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,” Ogakwu said.
The CSOs warned that failure to act on the petition could compel the public to pursue lawful alternatives, including civic engagement, judicial proceedings to compel action, and a formal review of the committee’s continued relevance.
The coalition emphasized that the legal profession, as a cornerstone of constitutional democracy, must be governed by institutions that inspire trust and accountability.
