Human rights advocate Inibehe Effiong has vowed to take legal steps against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), accusing the organization of “persecution” following the unexpected extension of service for Lagos corps member Ushie Uguamaye.
Speaking in a televised interview on Monday, Effiong said he plans to formally write to the NYSC Director-General in the coming hours to raise concerns about the extension. He warned that if the NYSC fails to provide a satisfactory response, he will escalate the matter to President Bola Tinubu as outlined in Section 20 of the NYSC Act before pursuing legal action.
“If we do not get a favourable answer, by law, we must take the matter to the President and Commander-in-Chief before proceeding to court,” Effiong explained.
The lawyer also criticized the NYSC for not officially informing Ushie Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, about the reasons behind the extension of her service year.
“Why wait until she was about to complete her service before communicating this? It’s embarrassing and unjust. What offence has she committed?” he questioned.
Effiong suggested that the move is politically motivated, aiming to silence dissenting voices in Nigeria.
“Some interests appear to be at play here, using Raye to suppress dissent. Nigerians should not be deceived this is unrelated to routine clearance procedures,” he said.
The controversy began after Raye publicly criticized the government in March, highlighting the soaring cost of living and economic hardship faced by many Nigerians.
The NYSC responded via a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, stating that Raye’s service year was extended by two months due to her failure to attend the mandatory April 2025 biometrics clearance, in accordance with NYSC bye-laws. The service denied any connection between the extension and her political statements.
However, Effiong countered that Raye was present for the clearance but was deliberately denied access by NYSC officials at Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
Adding to the criticism, prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana, along with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, condemned the NYSC’s withholding of Raye’s discharge certificate. They described the move as “overzealous” and an act of “impunity,” warning that it risks suppressing freedom of expression and violates constitutional rights.
