Business
Sowore, others protest at NYSC headquarters, demand release of corps member’s certificate
Human rights activist, 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 following allegations of political victimisation
and abuse of office by NYSC officials, triggering outrage among human rights
advocates and legal practitioners.
Sowore, while speaking to the crowd, insisted that the corps
member had fulfilled her national service and deserved her discharge
certificate without delay.
The former presidential candidate accused the NYSC of being
used as a tool for political retribution and called for accountability within
the institution.
During the protest, lawyers from Inibehe Effiong Chambers
submitted a formal protest letter to the NYSC Director-General, detailing the
alleged victimisation of Ms Ugumaye, 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
Ugumaye’s biometric clearance in April 2025, allegedly in 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 Ugumaye’s file was seized
without cause, adding that 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 also highlighted alleged threats made by the
Lagos State Coordinator of the NYSC, who reportedly warned Ms Ugumaye that she
would face 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.
Inibehe Effiong, Principal Counsel at Inibehe Effiong
Chambers, warned that failure to address the matter would lead to further
action.
“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, however, unavailable to
receive the protesters, as he was reportedly away on an assignment.
Human rights activist, 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 following allegations of political victimisation
and abuse of office by NYSC officials, triggering outrage among human rights
advocates and legal practitioners.
Sowore, while speaking to the crowd, insisted that the corps
member had fulfilled her national service and deserved her discharge
certificate without delay.
The former presidential candidate accused the NYSC of being
used as a tool for political retribution and called for accountability within
the institution.
During the protest, lawyers from Inibehe Effiong Chambers
submitted a formal protest letter to the NYSC Director-General, detailing the
alleged victimisation of Ms Ugumaye, 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
Ugumaye’s biometric clearance in April 2025, allegedly in 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 Ugumaye’s file was seized
without cause, adding that 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 also highlighted alleged threats made by the
Lagos State Coordinator of the NYSC, who reportedly warned Ms Ugumaye that she
would face 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.
Inibehe Effiong, Principal Counsel at Inibehe Effiong
Chambers, warned that failure to address the matter would lead to further
action.
“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, however, unavailable to
receive the protesters, as he was reportedly away on an assignment.