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Fresh Details Emerge as Sowore, Corps Member Honour NYSC Summons
- Empty Office Drama: Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore accompanied embattled corps member Ushie Rita Uguamaye to the NYSC office in Eti-Osa, Lagos, but the Local Government Inspector (LGI) was absent.
- Viral Criticism Fallout: Uguamaye faced summons after her viral TikTok video criticized President Tinubu and decried Nigeria’s economic hardships, sparking public attention and alleged threats from NYSC officials.
- Free Speech Defense: HURIWA condemned any attempt to intimidate Uguamaye, asserting that the Nigerian Constitution protects her right to freedom of expression over NYSC bylaws.
The Local Government Inspector (LGI) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) office in Eti-Osa, Lagos, Mrs. Veronica Abella, was absent yesterday when Ushie Rita Uguamaye, a corps member who recently voiced her frustrations over Nigeria’s economic hardship, appeared in response to an official summons.
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Uguamaye received a directive from the NYSC LGI to report to the Eti-Osa 3 local government office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday. Accompanied by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and legal representatives—Festus Ogun, Adeyinka Oyesomi, and Ojienoh Justice—she arrived as instructed. However, Mrs. Abella and other NYSC officials did not appear throughout their visit.
Speaking on the incident, Sowore stated: “We arrived at the Eti-Osa LGI office with the corps member as scheduled, but the officials failed to show up. We will return if necessary.”
Uguamaye gained widespread attention after a video posted on her TikTok account on March 15, 2025, went viral.
In the video, she criticized Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions, stating that hard work no longer ensures financial stability. She also accused President Bola Tinubu of poor leadership and questioned the government’s efforts to ease the public’s suffering.
Following the video’s circulation, Uguamaye reported receiving threats, allegedly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to delete the post. She later took to Instagram to express her disappointment, describing the pressure as an attempt to silence her, while standing firm on her statements.
In response, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) condemned any efforts to intimidate Uguamaye. The organization defended her right to express her opinions, emphasizing that freedom of speech is protected under the Nigerian Constitution.
HURIWA’s national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, reaffirmed that the NYSC bylaw cannot override constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. The group stressed that corps members’ loyalty is to Nigeria and not any individual leader.
“In accordance with Section 39(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, every citizen is entitled to freedom of expression without interference,” the statement read.
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HURIWA urged the NYSC leadership to reconsider any punitive actions against Uguamaye and called for the protection of free speech, especially among young Nigerians.
The organization emphasized the importance of encouraging public discourse and allowing youth voices to contribute to national conversations.
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