Body of Benchers Rejects Petition on Kalu's Certificate

On Wednesday, the Body of Benchers, Nigeria's top legal regulatory body, rejected a petition from a coalition of civil society organizations that sought an investigation into Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu's law school certificate. The petition was submitted at the Body's headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, but was dismissed on procedural grounds, as the coalition's complaint did not meet the required filing process.

The petition raised questions about the timeline of Kalu's participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and his enrollment at the Nigerian Law School's Enugu campus. According to the petition, Kalu served in the NYSC from March 9, 2010, to March 8, 2011, while claiming to have enrolled in law school on April 23, 2010, and graduating in September 2011.

The coalition highlighted a 12-year gap between Kalu's undergraduate graduation from the University of Calabar in 1998 and his alleged law school attendance. The Body of Benchers stated that the petition did not substantiate its claims and emphasized the need for transparency in legal qualifications.