Just In: LPDC Dismisses Petition Filed Against Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu
The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed a petition filed against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, ruling that no prima facie case was established to warrant disciplinary proceedings.
The petition, which questioned aspects of Kalu’s academic and professional background, alleged discrepancies relating to his participation in the National Youth Service Corps while attending the Nigerian Law School. The complainant had urged the disciplinary body to investigate the matter.
However, after reviewing the complaint and accompanying documents, the LPDC concluded that the allegations presented did not fall within its jurisdiction as defined under the Legal Practitioners Act. The panel noted that the issues raised were not directly related to professional misconduct in legal practice.
According to the committee, its mandate is strictly limited to regulating the professional conduct of legal practitioners in the discharge of their duties to the public. Matters concerning administrative or institutional procedures outside legal practice, it stressed, are beyond its authority.
The panel also observed that the petition contained procedural flaws which further weakened the case. It pointed out that the Statement of Facts was incorrectly addressed to the Chairman of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee instead of the Chairman of the LPDC as required under its rules.
Although the committee acknowledged the error, it stated that the procedural lapse alone would not have been enough to dismiss the petition if there had been substantial merit in the allegations presented.
After a careful assessment of the submissions, the LPDC determined that the claims did not establish any violation of professional ethics or misconduct by the Deputy Speaker in his capacity as a legal practitioner.
The decision effectively brings an end to the disciplinary complaint against Kalu before the legal body, affirming that the petition lacked both procedural and substantive merit.
The ruling has been interpreted by observers as a significant relief for the Deputy Speaker, who represents the Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
With the matter now settled by the disciplinary committee, Kalu is expected to continue his legislative and leadership responsibilities in the House without further legal challenge from the dismissed petition.
