Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, filed an administrative appeal on Thursday to President Bola Tinubu, requesting the issuance of a discharge certificate for Rita ‘Raye’ Uguamaye, a Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps member.

Mr Effiong, in a Facebook post, stated that the appeal was in tune with the requirement of Section 20 of the National Youth Service Corps Act, which identified “the Presidency” as an unavoidable arbitrator before seeking court actions.

The four-page appeal titled, “A Request for Reversal and Issuance of Discharge Certificate”, followed a disregarded petition, earlier addressed to the director-general of the NYSC, which demanded a reversal of the extension of service period and an issuance of Ms Rita’s certificate of national service.

“However, after waiting for three weeks without getting any response from the NYSC, we have invoked the provisions of Section 20 of the NYSC Act,” Mr Effiong said.

Ms Uguamaye, who criticised Mr Tinubu’s administration in March, had alleged that the National Youth Service Corps authorities withheld her discharge certificate, in a likely retaliation for her criticisms of Mr Tinubu’s economic administration.

According to the lawyer, the NYSC Act (section 20) noted that aggrieved persons, emanating from decisions made by the NYSC agency, have the right “to appeal to the Presidency in the first instance.”

Mr Effiong stated that the provision of the law demanded that the director-general of the NYSC and the president should be given the opportunity to redress any wrong done to a corps member before resort is made to a court of law by the aggrieved person.

The Act read, “The Presidency may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act and subject to the approval of the National Defence and Security Council, confirm or reverse the decision of the Directorate or take such further measures in relation to the appeal as he may think just, before any action may be commenced in any court of law in Nigeria.”

“We are hoping that President Tinubu will act in line with the dictates of justice and the rule of law by reversing the unjust and arbitrary punitive actions taken against Ms. Rita Uguamaye,” the lawyer noted.

Mr Effiong stressed that Ms Uguamaye would be at liberty to seek remedy before a court of competent jurisdiction if Mr Tinubu’s administration fails to remedy the situation.

He added that the final step to pursue legal action would also be used to enforce Ms Uguamaye’s fundamental rights as a citizen, while also claiming damages against the NYSC and all culpable officers, both jointly and individually.