Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has vowed to pursue justice for Rita Uguamaye, popularly known online as Raye, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who was denied her discharge certificate after publicly criticising the federal government.
Raye’s troubles reportedly began in March, after she posted a viral video in which she criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
She alleged that officials of the NYSC pressured her to take the video down, an action seen by many civil society groups as an attempt to suppress freedom of expression.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Sowore reaffirmed his support for Raye, stating:
“We had promised to fight for her justice and that promise remains unbroken.”
He went on to commend Raye’s boldness, crediting her activism with influencing improvements in the welfare of corps members.
“It was Raye’s courage that pushed the authorities to raise the allowance for her colleagues. We will not abandon her. Her fight is our fight,” he wrote.
Several civil rights organisations have condemned the NYSC’s actions, calling out what they described as efforts to intimidate and silence dissenting voices among young Nigerians in public service.
The issue escalated when the NYSC Local Government Inspector in Eti-Osa summoned Raye to appear at the local office.
However, when she showed up with her legal team and Sowore in attendance, the official who issued the summons was reportedly unavailable.
Subsequently, on June 18, Raye was summoned before a disciplinary panel at the NYSC Iyana Ipaja orientation camp in Lagos.
After several delays in the process, the panel ruled to extend her service by two months, a sanction that ultimately prevented her from receiving her NYSC certificate at the conclusion of her original service year.
