Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has vowed to take legal action against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over the alleged persecution of Lagos-based corps member, Ushie Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye.
Raye came into the public spotlight in March after openly criticising the Federal Government, accusing it of worsening the country’s economic hardship. Last week, she alleged in a viral video that the NYSC withheld her Discharge Certificate in retaliation for her remarks on the Bola Tinubu administration’s economic policies.
In a statement posted on X on Sunday, the NYSC said Raye’s service year had been extended by two months for failing to attend the April 2025 biometric clearance, in line with its bye-laws. The scheme maintained that the sanction had nothing to do with her political comments.
However, appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Effiong rejected the NYSC’s explanation, alleging that officials in Eti-Osa Local Government Area deliberately denied Raye clearance in April despite her presence.
“I will be writing to the Director-General of the NYSC in the coming hours to officially present these facts. If they fail to give a favourable response, Section 20 of the NYSC Act provides that we can escalate the matter to the President before taking legal action,” Effiong said.
The lawyer criticised the scheme for failing to formally communicate the reasons for the extension to Raye, describing the decision as an embarrassment and an act of bad faith.
“We want to give them an opportunity to redeem themselves. The DG has a responsibility to protect the image of the NYSC. Why wait until she was about to pass out before citing this reason? It is an aberration,” he stated.
Effiong alleged that the move was part of a broader attempt to stifle dissent in the country.
“What they are trying to achieve through Raye is to suppress the voice of dissent in Nigeria. Let no one be deceived—this has nothing to do with monthly clearance,” he said, adding that her ordeal came shortly after she publicly lamented the rising cost of living and her inability to afford basic necessities.
