Human Rights Activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, Tuesday led a protest to the headquarters of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Abuja, requesting for the immediate release of the discharge certificate of Ms. Ushie Rita Uguamaye, a corps member whose service year was allegedly extended unjustly.
The protest followed allegations of political victimization and abuse of office by NYSC officials, sparking outrage among human rights advocates and legal practitioners.
Addressing the crowd of protesters, Sowore insisted that Ms. Uguamaye had fulfilled her national service and deserved her discharge certificate without delay.
He accused the NYSC of being used as a tool for political retribution and called for accountability within the institution.
During the protest, lawyers from Inibehe Effiong Chambers submitted a formal protest letter to the NYSC Director-General, detailing the alleged victimization of Ms. Ugumaye
The letter, dated August 11, 2025, accused a Local Government Inspector, Ms. Veronica Abela, of deliberately refusing to process Ms. Ugumaye’s biometric clearance in April 2025, allegedly in retaliation for her criticism of the Bola Tinubu-led administration’s policies.
“Our client duly presented herself for the said April 2025 biometric monthly clearance on April 7, 2025. However, her Local Government Inspector, Ms. Veronica Abela, in an act of deliberate and targeted victimisation, refused to screen her,” the letter stated.
