LPDC Dismisses Petition Against Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu
The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed a petition filed against Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, ruling it lacked merit and exceeded its jurisdiction. The disciplinary body found the allegations of false declarations and NYSC Act violations outside its regulatory scope. Petitioner John Aikpokpo-Martins alleged Kalu participated in NYSC while training at the Nigerian Law School, contravening the NYSC Act. However, the LPDC panel stated its mandate under Section 10 of the Legal Practitioners Act only covers post-enrollment professional conduct. Since the alleged irregularities occurred before Kalu's call to the bar in 2011, the committee concluded no prima facie case existed. The ruling, dated March 11, 2026, effectively ended proceedings without requiring Kalu's response.