A faction of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), known as the Reform Caucus, has announced the suspension of its President, Goodluck Ibem, over what it described as an unauthorised and defamatory statement issued against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.
At a press conference in Abuja, the caucus said Ibem acted without the approval or knowledge of the organisation’s executive council when he submitted a petition against Kalu to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
The group dissociated itself from the statement, calling it a “rogue action” that misrepresented the organisation and damaged its credibility.
“COSEYL is not for sale. Our name is not a commodity to be traded in the corridors of mischief,” the caucus said, accusing Ibem of repeatedly using the group’s platform to pursue personal interests and political vendettas.
The Reform Caucus also presented what it described as a legal rebuttal to the allegations contained in the petition. According to the group, the claims relate to events that occurred before Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2011, placing them outside the jurisdiction of the LPDC under the Legal Practitioners Act.
They explained that the disciplinary committee can only investigate the professional conduct of practising lawyers arising from their legal practice — conditions they argued do not apply in the case raised by Ibem.
The caucus further dismissed allegations that Kalu improperly combined attendance at the Nigerian Law School with his service under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), noting that the NYSC Act does not explicitly prohibit such a situation.
According to the group, the petition also contained a major contradiction because Ibem acknowledged that Kalu was duly called to the Bar and even attached the Call to Bar Certificate as evidence, which they said weakens any claim questioning his status as a legal practitioner.
Leaders of the caucus — including President Prince Ogbu Emmanuel, Secretary Barrister Somto Nwokoye and Publicity Secretary Nellobi Bright — also rejected allegations of fraud, stressing that such accusations require proof beyond reasonable doubt, which they said was not established in the petition.
They also addressed a declaration made in April 2010 referenced in the petition, noting that it predates Kalu’s call to the Bar by more than a year and was not made under oath, making any claim of perjury legally untenable.
Describing the petition as “frivolous, malicious and politically motivated,” the group expressed confidence that any credible legal panel would dismiss the case.
The caucus reaffirmed its support for the Deputy Speaker, describing him as “one of Ndi Igbo’s emerging servant leaders” who has demonstrated commitment in the discharge of his legislative responsibilities.
It also issued an unreserved apology to Kalu, his family, constituents and office for the embarrassment and reputational damage caused by Ibem’s statement.
The group said Ibem’s suspension takes immediate effect and warned that any future statement issued in his name claiming to represent COSEYL should be disregarded, describing the earlier petition as “the personal opinion of one individual pursuing a private agenda.”
Youth Group Apologises to Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Suspends President
