Falana, Atiku Condemn Withholding of Rita Uguamayei’s NYSC Certificate Over Government Criticism

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have slammed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for withholding the Discharge Certificate of Lagos corps member Ushie Rita Uguamayei, popularly known as Raye, allegedly over her criticism of the government.

Falana described the action as “overzealousness” and “illegal, as it was not authorised by any competent court.” He likened the case to the 1988 incident in which rights activist Bamidele Aturu had his certificate confiscated for rejecting the Best Corper Award because he refused to shake hands with the military governor of Niger State.

“Indeed, it is a sad reminder of the confiscation of the NYSC Discharge Certificate of Bamidele Aturu (of blessed memory) in 1988 by the NYSC Management for rejecting the best Corper Award on the ground that he did not want to shake hands with the military Governor of Niger State, Lt. Col. Lawan Gwadabe. That was under the Ibrahim Babangida military junta when human rights were put in abeyance,” Falana said.

Quoting Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, Falana stressed that Uguamayei’s right to criticise the government is protected. He also reminded the NYSC of President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day message, in which he warned public officials against silencing dissent.

“The President declared, ‘While slander and libel must not go unaddressed, no one should suffer injustice for simply writing a negative report about me or calling me.’ In line with the commitment of the President to encourage Nigerians to criticise the government, the Management of the National Youth Service Corps should release the NYSC Discharge Certificate of Rita Uguamaye without any further delay,” Falana stated.

Atiku Abubakar was equally outspoken, warning against political victimisation.

“What manner of impunity is this? Everything should not be subjected to politics. I hope that Ushie Rita Uguamaye’s NYSC discharge certificate is not being withheld because she had the courage to criticise the economic hardship under the President Bola Tinubu-led administration,” Atiku said.

“It is unacceptable that the young lady, who had served her country without queries, should not have received her National Youth Service Corps certificate one year after passing out. The appropriate authorities should take urgent steps to ensure that she gets her discharge certificate.”

Raye gained public attention in March after posting a viral TikTok video under the username @talktoraye, where she accused the Tinubu administration of worsening Nigeria’s economic woes and lamented the high inflation and hardship facing citizens.