Prominent human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has vowed to take legal action against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over its decision to extend corps member Ushie Uguamaye (popularly known as Raye)’s service year, calling it an act of “persecution.”
During an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief* on Monday, Effiong revealed his planned course of action: “I am going to write to the Director-General of the NYSC in the coming hours… If they don’t give us a favourable answer… I’ll write to the President.” He cited Section 20 of the NYSC Act, which allows appeals to the President before litigation.
The controversy stems from NYSC’s announcement on Sunday that Raye’s service was extended by two months for allegedly missing April’s biometric clearance—a claim her lawyer strongly disputes. “She was present for clearance but was deliberately denied by NYSC officials in Eti-Osa LGA,” Effiong stated, suggesting ulterior motives.
Effiong connected the disciplinary action to Raye’s viral March 2025 critique of Nigeria’s economic conditions, asking: “What they are trying to achieve through Raye is to quell the voice of dissent in our country.” He condemned the timing—notifying her just before her scheduled passing-out—as “an embarrassment and an aberration.”
The case has drawn national attention, with senior lawyer Femi Falana and former VP Atiku Abubakar criticizing NYSC’s actions as unconstitutional overreach. Falana warned such measures risk creating “climate of fear” for youth expressing legitimate grievances.
NYSC however maintains its decision was purely administrative, unrelated to Raye’s political statements. However, with Effiong preparing formal petitions and potential litigation, this dispute may test the boundaries of free speech for corps members.
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