Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, on Tuesday, led a demonstration to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) headquarters in Abuja, demanding the immediate release of the discharge certificate of Ms. Ushie Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, whose service year was allegedly extended without justification.
The protest came amid allegations of political victimisation and abuse of office by NYSC officials, sparking outrage among human rights advocates and legal practitioners.
Addressing the crowd, Sowore insisted that the corps member had duly completed her national service and deserved her discharge certificate without delay. He accused the NYSC of being used as an instrument for political retribution and urged accountability within the institution.
During the protest, lawyers from Inibehe Effiong Chambers submitted a formal petition to the NYSC Director-General, detailing the alleged victimisation of Ms. Uguamaye, who served with State Code Number LA/24B/8325.
The letter, dated August 11, 2025, accused a local government inspector, Ms. Veronica Abela, of deliberately refusing to process Ms. Uguamaye’s biometric clearance in April 2025 as retaliation for her criticism of the Tinubu-led administration’s policies.
“Our client duly presented herself for the said April 2025 biometric monthly clearance on the 7th day of April, 2025. However, her local government inspector, Ms Veronica Abela, in an act of deliberate and targeted victimisation, refused to screen her,” the letter stated.
According to the lawyers, Ms. Uguamaye’s file was seized without reason, and she was denied a fair hearing before her service year was extended.
“This extension of our client’s service year amounts to denial of her right to a fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended),” the letter read.
The petition further alleged that the Lagos State Coordinator of NYSC threatened Ms. Uguamaye with an extension of her service year after she criticised government policies.
“The NYSC is established by statute as a neutral, non-partisan institution, and not as an apparatus for political retribution,” the letter emphasised.
Principal Counsel, Inibehe Effiong, warned that if the NYSC failed to act, the matter would be escalated.
“Take notice that failure to comply with our demands will leave our client with no option but to immediately lodge a formal appeal with the Presidency and seek redress in court,” the letter stated.
The NYSC Director-General was unavailable to meet the protesters, as he was reportedly away on an assignment.
