Deborah Akinyosoye
The factional president of NANS, Atiku Isah, has retracted a series of allegations against President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, which he describes as untrue and instigated.
This follows Isah’s claim that Seyi Tinubu and the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, offered him a N100 million bribe in Lagos to promote the president, an allegation Seyi Tinubu has since denied.
Recall that the controversy started when the students’ leader called the President’s son out and claimed he rejected the bribe, stating that he could not promote a President who had failed to fulfil his electoral promises. He also alleged he was stripped naked, abducted, and assaulted on April 15.
In a statement released on his Facebook page on Wednesday, which he tagged “Setting the Records Straight/Public Apology to Seyi Tinubu,” Isah disclosed that his earlier claims, including an alleged N100 million bribe offer, abduction, assault, and forced recantation, were influenced by deceitful information by NANS President, Olusola Ladoja.Isah alleged that Ladoja, his rival, misinformed him with the intent of fueling his agenda against him.
He said, “In the video, I also alleged that, for what they considered my stubbornness to reject their #100,000,000, I was on the 15th of April 2025 abducted, stripped naked, and thoroughly beaten up, and in connivance with the MD of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), I was taken to the station where an involuntary statement purportedly abdicating my position as NANS President was obtained under duress.
“It has become clear that the offer of N100,000,000, which was alleged was made to me to support President Tinubu, was clearly untrue, as Ladoja Olusola, who was desperate to get me out of my legitimate position as the duly elected President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, fed me lies and half-truths for the sole purpose of achieving his selfish agenda of taking over the reins of the student body through the back doors.”
He said it was Ladoja who warned him in private that Tinubu’s son could kill him and order the police to bury the case. Among other allegations, which include the mobilisation of thugs by Tinubu to disrupt his inauguration.
“It was also Ladoja Olusola who warned me that Mr Seyi Tinubu could order my killing and thereafter instruct the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to bury the matter. ‘’
Isah also admitted his claim that Seyi Tinubu led thugs to the venue of his inauguration is false.
“I made these claims owing to the picture of Seyi Tinubu painted to me by Ladoja Olusola, who swore to me that Seyi was doing everything to ensure I am not alive to serve my tenure as NANS president. “In fact, I later found out that Mr Seyi was nowhere near the venue,” Isah concluded.