Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has threatened legal action against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over what he described as the “persecution” of Lagos corps member Ushie Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, whose service year was extended by two months.
Effiong, speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, said he would formally write to the NYSC Director-General and, if unsatisfied, escalate the matter to the President in line with Section 20 of the NYSC Act before proceeding to court.
The lawyer questioned why the NYSC waited until Raye was about to conclude her service before issuing the extension, describing it as “an embarrassment and an aberration” aimed at silencing dissent. He alleged the move was linked to Raye’s public criticism of the present administration in March, when she accused it of worsening economic conditions.
The NYSC, in a statement on Sunday, maintained that Raye was disciplined for failing to attend her April 2025 biometrics clearance, insisting the decision was unrelated to her political views. However, Effiong claimed she was present for clearance but was deliberately denied access by officials in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State.
Prominent voices including human rights lawyer Femi Falana and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have also condemned the NYSC’s actions, describing them as “overzealous” and a threat to constitutional freedoms.
