Senior Advocate of Nigeria and prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, on Sunday delivered a strong rebuke to the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for their controversial decision to withhold the Discharge Certificate of a Lagos-based youth corps member, Ushie Uguamayei, popularly known as Raye.
This punitive measure is widely perceived as an act of retaliation against Uguamayei’s outspoken criticism of the current economic policies under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Falana characterized the decision as a “cheap demonstration of overzealousness” on the part of the NYSC management. He made it clear that the seizure of the Discharge Certificate is not only unjust but also unlawful, stressing that no court of competent jurisdiction has authorized or sanctioned such an action.
The legal icon recalled a disturbing parallel from Nigeria’s history when, in 1988, the NYSC under the military government confiscated the Discharge Certificate of the late Bamidele Aturu. Aturu had rejected the Best Corper Award as a principled protest against having to shake hands with the then military Governor of Niger State, Lt. Col. Lawan Gwadabe.
This act of defiance occurred during the oppressive regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, a period marked by the systematic suspension of fundamental human rights and freedoms.
Contrasting that military era with the present democratic dispensation, Falana emphasized that Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution guarantees the right of every citizen to freedom of expression and the fundamental right to criticize the government without fear of retribution.
Specifically, Section 39 of the Constitution protects these rights unequivocally. He urged the NYSC management to reflect on this constitutional safeguard and desist from any acts that violate these fundamental freedoms.
Furthermore, Falana cited President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day address, where the President himself urged public officers to respect dissenting opinions and warned against suppressing voices critical of government policies.
The President acknowledged the importance of free speech in a democratic society, affirming that while defamation and libel require proper legal redress, no Nigerian should suffer injustice simply for expressing negative opinions or critiques of government officials or policies. He warned that silencing critical voices risks fomenting unrest and undermining the very foundations of Nigeria’s democracy.
In line with this commitment to democratic principles, Falana called on the NYSC authorities to immediately release the Discharge Certificate of Rita Uguamayei without any further delay. He insisted that the management’s current stance is incompatible with the values espoused by the President and the democratic ethos Nigeria seeks to uphold.
Ushie Uguamayei, also known as Raye, became an internet sensation after her public expressions of frustration regarding Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions went viral on social media.
In a widely shared video posted on her TikTok account, @talktoraye, she voiced her deep concerns over soaring inflation, escalating costs of living, and the general economic hardship endured by many Nigerians.
Her candid and passionate criticism included describing President Tinubu as a “terrible leader,” while openly questioning the government’s capacity and commitment to alleviating the suffering of ordinary citizens.
Raye’s outspoken nature resonated with many Nigerians who share similar frustrations, thereby amplifying her voice and influence online.
However, it also appears to have attracted punitive measures from authorities, exemplified by the NYSC’s withholding of her Discharge Certificate—an action that critics, including Falana, view as an attempt to stifle dissent and discourage civic engagement.
This incident has raised broader questions about the state of freedom of expression in Nigeria, the role of government institutions in respecting constitutional rights, and the delicate balance between national security or public order and individual liberties in a democratic society.
Falana’s intervention serves as a potent reminder that democratic governance requires tolerance of criticism and the protection of civil rights, especially the right to hold those in power accountable.