ABUJA — Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on Tuesday led a protest to the headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abuja, demanding the immediate release of the discharge certificate of Ms Ushie Rita Uguamaye — a corps member whose service year was allegedly extended unjustly.
The protest, which drew lawyers, activists, and concerned citizens, followed allegations of political victimisation and abuse of office by NYSC officials, sparking outrage among human rights advocates.
Speaking at the demonstration, Sowore accused the NYSC of being manipulated as “a tool for political retribution” and insisted that Ms Uguamaye had duly completed her national service and deserved her discharge certificate without delay.
During the protest, lawyers from Inibehe Effiong Chambers submitted a formal petition to the NYSC Director-General, detailing the alleged victimisation. The letter, dated August 11, 2025, claimed that a local government inspector, Ms Veronica Abela, deliberately refused to process Uguamaye’s biometric clearance in April 2025 — reportedly in retaliation for her criticism of the Tinubu-led administration’s policies.
“Our client duly presented herself for the April 2025 biometric monthly clearance on the 7th of April, 2025. However, her local government inspector, Ms Veronica Abela, in an act of deliberate and targeted victimisation, refused to screen her,” the petition stated.
The lawyers further alleged that Ms Uguamaye’s file was seized without justification and that she was denied a fair hearing before her service year was extended — an act they described as a violation of Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair hearing.
The petition also accused the Lagos State NYSC Coordinator of threatening Ms Uguamaye with a service year extension 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 failure to address the matter would prompt legal action and a formal appeal to the Presidency.
The NYSC Director-General was unavailable to receive the protesters, as he was reportedly away on an official assignment.
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