Seyi Tinubu Denies NANS President’s Bribery and Abduction Allegations: “All Lies”

 

A fresh controversy has erupted in Nigeria’s political and student leadership landscape, following a public clash between Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah. Seyi has come out forcefully to reject damning allegations of bribery, intimidation, and attempted abduction made by the student leader, branding them as entirely fictional and malicious.

The allegations were first aired during a press conference held on Wednesday, where Comrade Isah accused both Seyi Tinubu and Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, of attempting to bribe him with N100 million. According to Isah, the alleged offer took place in Lagos and was made with the intent to coerce him into publicly supporting the administration of President Bola Tinubu, which he claimed he could not do in good conscience due to lack of tangible achievements.

Seyi Tinubu swiftly addressed the accusations through a series of Instagram posts on Friday, describing the claims as baseless and deeply damaging. “Wow… how can someone lie with so much confidence? Wow wow… an attempt to defame my character. May God be with you, Comrade Atiku Isah,” he wrote.

Maintaining that he has had no prior interactions with the NANS president, Seyi continued in a follow-up post: “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. Neither did I visit any location with thugs.”

The young Tinubu firmly stated that all allegations made against him are entirely made up, calling them “completely fictional.”

Comrade Atiku’s press conference, however, was nothing short of explosive. Detailing his ordeal, he alleged that after refusing the bribe, he was subjected to an abduction plot that materialized on April 15. During this incident, he claimed he was violently assaulted and stripped naked, all in the presence of officials including the Managing Director of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

According to Isah, he was coerced into recording a video under duress as a means to gain his release. “I did that to gain my freedom, but immediately, I released a press statement that I was forced under duress. Because I was naked, I was beaten. They claimed they would share the video,” he said, revealing the extent of psychological and physical trauma he alleges to have endured.

Further intensifying the situation, Isah stated that high-profile individuals had threatened to erase any consequences that might arise from the alleged misconduct. “They told me that nothing would happen if they shared the video, and even if they killed me, Seyi Tinubu would order a cover-up,” he claimed. He added that an individual named Ladoja allegedly boasted about having the power to influence the Inspector General of Police to bury any fallout and implied that defiance by the police could be bypassed altogether.

Despite these threats, the student leader expressed a firm resolve, affirming that no level of intimidation would deter him. “I made it clear that even if I am shot, I will still come to this hall. The inauguration proceeded, and I was announced as president. I want Nigerians to know what has happened and that we will not give up. Seyi Tinubu can do anything he wants, but we are determined.”

The gravity of these allegations and the sharpness of the denial from Seyi Tinubu have set the stage for a high-stakes public dispute. While the presidential scion has not indicated any legal action, his public dismissal of the accusations suggests a desire to clear his name in the court of public opinion.

On the other side, Comrade Atiku Isah seems undeterred, presenting himself as a figure willing to stand against powerful interests. His account has generated mixed reactions across various platforms, with some calling for a thorough investigation into the events of April 15, while others question the credibility of his claims, given their severity and timing.

The allegations, if proven, would raise serious questions about the use of state power and youth engagement in political propaganda. If disproven, they could severely tarnish the image of the student body and further polarize public discourse around the role of activism and governance in Nigeria.

At this stage, the story is developing with no official statement yet issued by the Minister of Youth Development or the NTA regarding the alleged involvement of their personnel.

Nigerians are watching closely as the situation unfolds, waiting to see whether these serious claims will result in a credible investigation or dissolve into another political shouting match with no accountability.