A new certificate scandal is brewing at the highest level of Nigeria’s legislature.
The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has officially summoned the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, demanding a written response to a petition calling for the withdrawal and cancellation of his qualifying certificate from the Nigerian Law School.
Documents exclusively obtained by this blog reveal that the Council—the body responsible for legal education in Nigeria—has taken the unprecedented step of forming a three-member ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations.
What We Know So Far
According to the official correspondence signed by Ade Onke O. Osho (MS.), Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration, the Council sat on Friday, 17th April 2026, to deliberate on a petition dated 16th March 2026.
That petition requests the “withdrawal and cancellation” of Deputy Speaker Kalu’s Qualifying Certificate No. 051144.
The Council’s Demand
In a letter addressed to the Deputy Speaker at the National Assembly Complex, the Committee has given Hon. Kalu seven (7) days from the date of the letter to submit a written response to the allegations.
“In view of the foregoing, the Committee has requested that you submit a written response to the petition within seven (7) days from the date hereof, to enable the Committee to expeditiously carry out its assignment.”
The letter also contained a stark warning: the Council may require Kalu’s personal appearance at any stage of its work if deemed necessary.
High Stakes for a Federal Lawmaker
This is not a minor administrative query. For a sitting Deputy Speaker, a fake certificate scandal—especially one involving the Council of Legal Education—could have severe legal and political repercussions.
The Nigerian Law School qualifying certificate is the sine qua non for anyone practicing law or claiming the title of Barrister in Nigeria. If withdrawn or canceled, it questions not only his eligibility to hold office but also the validity of every legal instrument he has participated in.
Context: The Growing Trend of Certificate Scandals
This summons comes amid a national reckoning over forged credentials among public officeholders. From the infamous CSU certificate saga of the previous administration to various degree mills uncovered in the Republic of Benin and Togo, Nigerians are demanding stricter vetting of their leaders.
The Council of Legal Education appears to be signaling that it will no longer turn a blind eye—even to those in the highest echelons of power.
What Happens Next?
Hon. Kalu now has seven days to respond. His options include:
1. Submitting a written defense with evidence countering the petition.
2. Appearing personally before the ad hoc committee.
3. Legally challenging the jurisdiction of the Council (though politically risky).
Given the gravity of the term “withdrawal and cancellation,” legal observers expect Kalu to respond swiftly and aggressively, likely through his own team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).
Our Take
This is developing rapidly. While a petition does not equal guilt, the mere fact that the Council of Legal Education has moved from receiving a complaint to constituting an investigative committee—and summoning a sitting Deputy Speaker—suggests the prima facie case was considered serious enough to act on.
We will continue to monitor this story as the seven-day deadline approaches and any personal appearance before the committee is scheduled.
Stay tuned for updates.
— Reported from Abuja
Share your thoughts below: Do you think the Council of Legal Education will follow through, or will this be swept under the rug?
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