Presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Local Government Inspector (LGI) of Eti-Osa Local Government Area of absconding after he arrived at the NYSC office with Ushie Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, alongside her legal team for a scheduled disciplinary meeting.
Raye, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), recently became a viral sensation following a controversial video in which she openly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration and referred to Lagos as a “smelly state.” Her remarks triggered widespread reactions, with some Nigerians defending her right to free speech, while others condemned her statements as inappropriate for a serving corps member.
As a result of the viral video, the NYSC authorities scheduled a disciplinary session for Raye on Monday, March 17, 2025. Ahead of the meeting, Sowore, along with legal representatives, had announced their intention to accompany Raye to ensure her rights were protected.
Upon their arrival at the Eti-Osa NYSC office, Sowore and the legal team, which included attorneys Festus Ogun, Yinka Oyesomi, and Justice Ojienoh, were reportedly met with an unexpected situation—the LGI in charge of handling the case was nowhere to be found.
Providing an update via his X (formerly Twitter) account, Sowore stated:
“We arrived at the Eti-Osa LGI offices of the @officialnyscng with youth corper, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, in Lagos. She was scheduled to appear before the LGI today, and we escorted her to their offices with attorneys @mrfestusogun, @yinka_oyesomi, and @justiceojienoh. However, the LGI official had absconded, failing to show up throughout our stay.”
The absence of the LGI has sparked further controversy, with supporters of Raye questioning whether the NYSC authorities were deliberately avoiding the case due to Sowore’s involvement. Meanwhile, critics argue that the corps member’s actions should still be subject to disciplinary review, regardless of the legal team accompanying her.
As of now, the NYSC board has not released an official statement regarding the LGI’s alleged absence or the next steps concerning Raye’s case. Many are now awaiting clarification on whether the disciplinary session will be rescheduled or dismissed entirely.