Sowore leads protest over withheld certificate of corps member who criticised Tinubu
Sowore and other protesters
Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore led a protest on Tuesday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) headquarters in Abuja, demanding the immediate release of the discharge certificate for Ms. Ushie Rita Uguamaye, a corps member whose service year was allegedly unjustly extended.
The demonstration came amid accusations of political victimisation and abuse of office by NYSC officials, drawing condemnation from human rights advocates and legal practitioners.
Sowore addressed the protesters, insisting that Ms. Uguamaye had completed her national service and deserved her discharge certificate without delay.
He accused the NYSC of being manipulated for political retribution and called for accountability within the institution.
Lawyers from Inibehe Effiong Chambers presented a formal protest letter to the NYSC Director-General, detailing allegations against Ms. Veronica Abela, a Local Government Inspector, who reportedly refused to process Ms. Uguamaye’s biometric clearance in April 2025.
The refusal was allegedly in retaliation for Ms. Uguamaye’s criticism of the Bola Tinubu administration.
The letter, dated August 11, 2025, further alleged that Ms. Uguamaye’s file was seized without cause and that she was denied a fair hearing before her service year was extended—actions said to violate Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution on the right to fair hearing.
Additionally, the petition cited threats from the Lagos State NYSC Coordinator warning Ms. Uguamaye of punitive service extension after her criticisms of government policies.
The lawyers emphasized that the NYSC is meant to be a neutral, non-partisan institution and warned that failure to resolve the issue would lead to formal appeals to the Presidency and court action.
The NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, was reportedly unavailable to receive the protesters due to an out-of-office assignment.
