DSS Charges NANS President Atiku Isah with Incitement and Impersonation Amid Leadership Dispute

 

The leadership crisis within the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) took a dramatic turn on Tuesday when Atiku Abubakar Isah, the factional president of the student body, appeared before a Magistrate Court in Zone 6, Abuja. He was arraigned by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on charges that included inciting public disturbance and impersonation of a public officer.

Arriving in court clad in an all-black outfit, Isah stood before the magistrate as charges rooted in a bitter leadership rivalry within NANS were read out. The appearance marked the culmination of weeks of rising tensions, public accusations, and internal battles within Nigeria’s most influential student organization.

Legal representation for Isah was provided by Marshal Abubakar, a lawyer from Falana & Falana Chambers. Speaking outside the courtroom, Abubakar revealed that his client had been accused of urging students to disrupt public order during a student gathering. He also noted that the DSS alleged Isah had interrupted a meeting of what they described as the "elected" leadership of the association.

According to Abubakar, the state security service went further, accusing his client of parading himself as the legitimate president of NANS despite ongoing controversies over the association’s actual leadership. This statement adds more weight to the already convoluted leadership tussle that has divided the organization and drawn national attention.

The courtroom drama followed reports that Isah was previously assaulted by members of a rival faction within NANS. His camp insists that the faction is backed by none other than Seyi Tinubu, son of Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu. While no official statement has been made by the Tinubu family or the presidency regarding the allegations, the claim has further intensified the public's interest and added a political undertone to the conflict.

Despite the serious nature of the charges leveled against him, the Magistrate Court opted to grant Isah bail. The court set the bail amount at ₦5 million and required one surety of the same amount. There were no additional bail conditions apart from a stipulation that the surety must reside within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The student body, which is known for its nationwide activism and influence across campuses, now finds itself caught in a crisis that is not only threatening its unity but also attracting high-level governmental scrutiny. The events leading to Isah's arraignment mirror a growing concern about the politicization of student leadership in Nigeria, where factions are often aligned with powerful figures outside the educational system.

Observers within the education sector and civil society have expressed concern about what they view as an alarming precedent being set by the heavy-handed involvement of state security forces in student affairs. The use of the DSS in what should ordinarily be a civil dispute within a student body has raised eyebrows, particularly among rights advocates who argue that such moves could signal a wider crackdown on dissenting youth voices.

Isah’s legal team maintains that his arrest and subsequent arraignment are efforts to silence a legitimate leadership faction. Marshal Abubakar emphasized that his client had been carrying out his duties in good faith and that the DSS’s actions amounted to intimidation under the guise of law enforcement.

With the matter now in court, both sides of the dispute are expected to dig in further, potentially leading to protracted legal proceedings. Meanwhile, students across the country remain divided, with loyalties split between rival factions.

As NANS finds itself embroiled in this crisis, questions continue to swirl around how a student body that once stood united against national injustices is now being fractured by internal rivalries and external influences. The outcome of the legal battle may shape not just the future of NANS but also the landscape of student activism in Nigeria for years to come.