According to reports, a former First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), John Aikpokpo-Martins, has petitioned the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), alleging what he described as “fraudulent enrolment” on the Roll of Legal Practitioners maintained at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

At the centre of the petition is an alleged overlap between Kalu’s NYSC service year and his attendance at the Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus.

The petitioner claims Kalu was mobilised for NYSC from March 9, 2010 to March 8, 2011, while also attending the Law School between April 23, 2010 and July 1, 2011. He argues that such dual participation would contravene Section 2(3) of the NYSC Act, which requires a continuous one-year national service, making it “statutorily impossible” to lawfully undertake full-time academic training during that period.

The petition further references policies of the Law School and the Council of Legal Education prohibiting students from serving in the NYSC while enrolled in academic training.

In an affidavit before the LPDC, the petitioner alleges that Kalu — who reportedly enrolled at the Law School under the name Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu before a subsequent name change — declared on April 23, 2010 that he was not and would not engage in employment or NYSC service during his studies.

However, documents cited in the petition, including an NYSC Certificate of National Service allegedly issued on March 8, 2011, are said to indicate continuous participation in the scheme during the same timeframe.

The petitioner argues this raises questions about whether the Deputy Speaker met the mandatory 70 percent attendance requirement at the Nigerian Law School — a prerequisite for certification by the Council of Legal Education and subsequent Call to Bar.

Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar on September 6, 2011, and enrolled at the Supreme Court with enrolment number SCN/078630.

The petition invokes provisions of the NYSC Act that prescribe penalties for failure to serve continuously, aiding contraventions, or making false statements. Under the Legal Practitioners Act, the LPDC is empowered to discipline any legal practitioner found guilty of infamous conduct in a professional respect.

Aikpokpo-Martins has also written to the Director-General of the NYSC, urging the withdrawal of the alleged certificate and possible prosecution if violations are established. He disclosed plans to seek subpoenas for official records from both the NYSC and the Nigerian Law School, including attendance registers and discharge documentation.

Legal practitioners who commented on the development noted that the LPDC has jurisdiction to investigate professional misconduct where properly substantiated, but emphasised that the claims remain allegations pending formal inquiry.

As of press time, there has been no official response from Kalu. Neither the NYSC nor the LPDC has publicly confirmed the commencement of investigations.

The matter places renewed focus on statutory compliance, professional standards, and expectations of integrity for holders of high public office.