Embattled corps member, Rita Uguamaye, has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what she described as an “unlawful and politically motivated” extension of her service year.
Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, through her lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, Esq., accused the NYSC of victimisation and abuse of power, claiming she was deliberately targeted for publicly criticising some policies of the Tinubu administration.
In a petition addressed to the President and copied to the NYSC Director-General, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and other stakeholders, Uguamaye demanded the immediate reversal of the two-month extension and the issuance of her discharge certificate.
The petition, titled “Appeal Against the Unlawful Extension of the Service Year of Corps Member Ushie Rita Uguamaye with State Code Number LA/24B/8325,” reads in part:
“We are Solicitors to Ms. Ushie Rita Uguamaye (hereinafter referred to as ‘our Client’), a Corps member whose service year was unlawfully extended under the National Youth Service (NYSC) scheme, and upon whose firm instruction and behalf we write this letter to you.
“Our Client has drawn our attention to the arbitrary and punitive decision of the NYSC to extend her service year by two (2) months on the unfounded allegation that she failed to present herself for the April 2025 biometric monthly clearance. We state emphatically that this allegation is false, malicious, and a clear act of victimization.
“For the record, our Client duly presented herself for the said April biometric monthly clearance on the 7th day of April, 2025. However, her Local Government Inspector (LGI), Ms. Veronica Abela, in an act of deliberate and targeted victimization, refused to screen her. This act was not due to any dereliction of duty on our Client’s part, but rather in retaliation for her exercise of her constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression, after she had publicly criticized certain policies of the current Tinubu-led administration.
“It is further disturbing that following this criticism, the Lagos State Coordinator of NYSC threatened our Client with an extension of her service year. That threat has now been carried out, in clear abuse of power, violation of the Constitution, and breach of the NYSC Act.
“Despite writing a detailed petition dated 11th August, 2025 to the Director-General (DG) of the NYSC, who is statutorily obligated to ensure fairness, discipline, and impartiality within the scheme, no redress has been given till date. The DG has failed to accede to our Client’s legitimate demand for reversal of this manifestly unjust decision. This has made it necessary for us to seek the intervention of the Presidency. Please find attached herewith the petition written to the Director-General of NYSC dated 11th August 2025.”
Effiong argued that the case violates Raye’s constitutional rights to freedom of expression and fair hearing, warning that allowing such practices to stand would set a “dangerous precedent for democracy.”
The human rights lawyer urged Tinubu to intervene immediately, stressing that failure to do so could be seen as tacit approval of political victimisation within the NYSC. He further hinted that the corps member may head to court if no action is taken.
