Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential contender and human rights advocate, has arrived at the National Youth Service Corps headquarters in Abuja to seek the discharge certificate of Ushie Rita Uguamaye, also known as "Raye," a female corps member. Human rights attorney Inibehe Effiong, who also acts as Raye's attorney, was among the activists who accompanied Sowore to the headquarters on Tuesday morning. Sowore had claimed that the action was taken to guarantee that she would receive her discharge certificate in a message posted on his X account on Monday.
Sowore declared that the injustice Raye had endured would not be tolerated and pledged to see to it that she received justice.
"We will return to the Maitama Abuja headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps @officialnyscng by 9 am tomorrow to collect Corp Member Ushie Rita Uguamaye's discharge certificate after she completed her mandatory service," he said.
Remember how Raye had criticized the Bola Tinubu government and claimed that NYSC had denied her discharge certificate? But according to the NYSC, her credential was revoked because she did not show up for the required biometric clearance in April 2025, not because she made disparaging words about the federal government.
The NYSC administration called the social media rumors that the credential was revoked because she criticized the government "entirely unfounded and false" in a statement released on Sunday.
Rita is one of 131 corps members whose certifications were revoked for legitimate disciplinary reasons, according to the NYSC.
The NYSC claims that because she did not attend the April 2025 biometric clearing, her service year has been specially extended by two months, by the NYSC Bye-Laws.
131 Corps members had their Certificates of National Service revoked for legitimate disciplinary reasons, including Rita. In particular, Rita's service year has been prolonged by two months by the NYSC Bye-Laws because she did not attend the biometrics clearance in April 2025.
"It is important to note that the equal treatment principle was only applied in this case and that this extension is a standard procedure and not unique to her case."