Atiku Condemns Alleged Assault on Student Leader by Tinubu’s Son

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticized President Bola Tinubu following allegations of assault and kidnapping leveled against Tinubu’s son, Seyi. While Seyi’s representatives have vehemently denied the accusations, calling them politically motivated, the controversy centers around Atiku Isah, a faction leader of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

Isah, during an Abuja press conference, claimed he was assaulted and abducted on April 15th after refusing a N100 million bribe allegedly offered by Seyi Tinubu and Minister Ayodele Olawande in exchange for supporting the Tinubu administration. Isah alleged that following his refusal, he was stripped, beaten, and held captive by unidentified assailants. The alleged incident followed a Lagos meeting where the bribe was reportedly offered.

Seyi Tinubu, responding via Instagram, flatly denied ever meeting Isah or participating in such an event. He characterized the allegations as a deliberate attempt to damage his reputation, stating, “Wow… how can someone lie with so much confidence? An attempt to defame my character. May God be with you, Comrade Atiku Isah. I have never held a meeting to discuss any subject matter with Comrade Isah in Lagos or anywhere else in the world. I have never knowingly met him before, nor did I visit any location with thugs. All these allegations are completely fictional.”

In defense of the President’s son, Sunday Asefon, Special Assistant to the President on Student Affairs and a former NANS president, accused Isah of being a pawn of opposition figures, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who Asefon claims is trying to undermine Tinubu’s administration before the 2027 elections. El-Rufai, responding on X, questioned the lack of official response to the allegations, stating, “What is going on here? Is there a denial by the named culprits or any response from law enforcement agencies or inquiries by human rights organisations? We must ask questions, demand answers and action!! #JusticeforNANSPresident – @elrufai.”

Asefon, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, claimed Isah is currently residing at El-Rufai’s residence, presenting photos allegedly depicting Isah meeting with opposition figures Atiku Abubakar, Omoyele Sowore, and Sule Lamido. Asefon asserted, “They have now seen that Seyi is a political asset to his father, so they want to destabilise him,” dismissing the allegations as a smear campaign against the presidential family. Asefon also disputed Isah’s claim to the NANS presidency, naming Olusola Oladoja as the legitimate leader.

Isah denied residing at El-Rufai’s home, calling the accusations attempts to silence and discredit him. He stated, “I have not seen El-Rufai in over nine years. I visited Atiku after several attempts to reach him, and I met Sowore for the first time at a public birthday event. Does that mean I am working for them?” He clarified that despite disagreeing with some of Tinubu’s policies, he remains supportive of the President but will not compromise his commitment to truth and accountability.

Atiku Abubakar, through his media advisor Paul Ibe, condemned the alleged intimidation of Isah, warning against treating Nigeria as the personal property of the first family. Ibe stated, “It is intolerable that the first family would seek to subjugate NANS or any civil society group through threats, bribes, or brute force. The presidency is a public trust, not a private inheritance.” Atiku called for an independent investigation and urged Nigerians to resist efforts to suppress dissent.

Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political group, issued a statement signed by its National Organizing Secretary, Kole Omololu, dismissing the allegations as “salacious, fallacious, and completely unfounded,” claiming the incident was a proxy war against the President and his family. Afenifere also accused Isah of acting as a front for anti-Tinubu forces and cautioned student groups against political manipulation.