Two civil society groups have called for a comprehensive investigation after the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee confirmed that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, did not participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) while he was attending the Nigerian Law School.
The groups — Save Nigeria Movement (SNM) and Freelance Journalists Federation (FJF) — made the demand following the committee’s decision to dismiss a petition that questioned Kalu’s involvement in the national service scheme.
The petition had been filed by lawyer John Aikpokpo Martins, who requested an investigation into the lawmaker’s alleged participation in the NYSC and his attendance at the Nigerian Law School.
In reaction to the committee’s decision, the groups urged the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the individuals responsible for submitting the petition, describing the move as potentially malicious.
Addressing journalists during a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday, the groups’ conveners, Solomon Semeka and Ibrahim Akawe Joseph, suggested that the controversy could be connected to political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Abia State.
They noted that a similar complaint had earlier been submitted to the disciplinary committee but was dismissed after review due to a lack of evidence.
According to the groups, the renewed allegations appear to be part of a broader attempt to damage the reputation of the Deputy Speaker as political activities gradually build up toward the next governorship contest in the state.
They therefore urged security agencies to examine the circumstances surrounding the petition and take appropriate action against anyone found culpable of spreading false or misleading claims.
The organisations also appealed to members of the public to verify information before sharing it online, warning that the spread of unverified claims could contribute to misinformation and unnecessary political tension.
