A breakaway faction of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), operating as the Reform Caucus, on Friday announced the immediate suspension of Goodluck Ibem from the organisation’s leadership, accusing him of issuing an unauthorised and defamatory statement against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, without the knowledge or approval of the body’s executive council.
Addressing journalists in a strongly worded press conference, the caucus distanced COSEYL entirely from Ibem’s statement, describing it as a rogue act that misrepresented the organisation and tarnished its standing. “COSEYL is not for sale. Our name is not a commodity to be hawked in corridors of mischief,” the group declared, alleging that Ibem had consistently deployed the COSEYL brand for personal profit and political score-settling.
The caucus led by mounted a detailed legal defence of Deputy Speaker Kalu, methodically dismantling each allegation contained in Ibem’s petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC). Central to their rebuttal was a jurisdictional argument: all conduct cited against Kalu allegedly occurred before his call to the Nigerian Bar in September 2011, meaning the LPDC has no authority to entertain the petition. Under the Legal Practitioners Act, the committee can only investigate the conduct of a practising lawyer arising from the practice of law — neither condition applies here, the caucus argued.
On the allegation that Kalu simultaneously attended Law School and completed his NYSC service, the group stated that no existing legal provision explicitly prohibits such concurrency. The NYSC Act, they noted, speaks only to the duration and continuity of service and does not mandate exclusivity. Ibem’s petition, they added, failed to identify any specific rule that was violated.
The caucus led by Prince Ogbu Emmanuel( President) , Barrister Somto Nwokoye ( Secretary), Nellobi Bright ( Publicity Secretary) and other key members further noted a glaring internal contradiction in the petition: Ibem himself acknowledged that Kalu was duly called to the Bar and even exhibited the Call to Bar Certificate as an exhibit — a concession that, in their view, nullifies any challenge to the validity of his enrolment as a legal practitioner. They also dismissed the fraud allegation, noting that fraud carries a criminal standard of proof — beyond reasonable doubt — which the materials submitted by Ibem fall far short of meeting.
On a declaration made in April 2010, cited in the petition, the group pointed out that it predated the Bar call by over a year, was not made under oath, and therefore carries no criminal perjury element — dismissing insinuations to the contrary as mischievous. The caucus characterised the entire petition as “frivolous, malicious, and politically motivated,” and expressed confidence that any credible legal panel would dismiss it outright.
Reaffirming its support for the Deputy Speaker, the caucus described Kalu as “one of NdiIgbo’s rising servant leaders” who occupies one of the highest offices in Nigeria’s legislative architecture and has discharged that responsibility with visible commitment. The group expressed pride in his public service and said COSEYL’s mandate is to celebrate — not fabricate allegations against — leaders who serve the Igbo nation with distinction.
The caucus tendered an unreserved apology to Kalu, his family, his constituents, and his office for “the embarrassment, distress, and reputational damage” caused by Ibem’s statement. Ibem’s suspension takes immediate effect, and any future statement issued under his name purporting to represent COSEYL was declared null and void. The group called on Nigerians, and particularly the Igbo community, to disregard Ibem’s statement entirely, describing it as “the frustrated musings of one man pursuing a personal agenda.”
