COSEYL Reform Caucus Suspends Goodluck Ibem, Clears Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu

A faction of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), identifying itself as the Reform Caucus, has announced the suspension of Goodluck Ibem from the organisation, accusing him of issuing an unauthorised statement targeting the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.

At a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the caucus said Ibem released the statement without the knowledge or approval of COSEYL’s executive council. The group described the action as a misrepresentation of the organisation and said it had damaged its credibility.

According to the caucus, Ibem had recently submitted a petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee alleging misconduct by the Deputy Speaker. The Reform Caucus rejected the claims and said the petition did not reflect the position of the youth coalition.

The group argued that the allegations raised in the petition fall outside the jurisdiction of the disciplinary body. It stated that the issues cited relate to events that allegedly occurred before Kalu was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 2011. Under the Legal Practitioners Act, the committee is mandated to examine conduct connected to the practice of law by a practising lawyer, the caucus said, adding that the conditions required for such review were not present.

Addressing one of the claims in the petition — that Kalu attended the Nigerian Law School while completing the National Youth Service Corps programme — the caucus said there is no law that explicitly prohibits both from occurring at the same time. It added that the petition did not identify any legal provision that was breached.

The group also pointed to what it described as a contradiction in the petition, noting that Ibem attached Kalu’s Call to Bar certificate as evidence while simultaneously questioning his qualification as a legal practitioner.

On allegations of fraud, the caucus said such claims require proof beyond reasonable doubt and maintained that the petition did not meet that threshold. It also dismissed references to a declaration made in April 2010, stating that it occurred more than a year before Kalu’s call to the Bar and was not made under oath.

The Reform Caucus characterised the petition as politically motivated and expressed confidence that any formal review would dismiss the claims.

The group reaffirmed its support for Kalu, describing him as a prominent political figure from the South-East and a key representative of the region in Nigeria’s National Assembly.

The caucus also issued an apology to the Deputy Speaker, his family, and his constituents for the controversy surrounding the statement. It said Ibem’s suspension takes immediate effect and declared that any statement issued by him in the name of COSEYL should be disregarded.