Atiku Abubakar Isah, a factional president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has publicly retracted his earlier allegations against Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, admitting the claims were based on misinformation.
Last week, Isah had accused Seyi Tinubu and Youth Minister Ayodele Olawande of offering him a ₦100 million bribe in Lagos to endorse President Tinubu, which he claimed to have rejected. He further alleged he was abducted, assaulted, and coerced into renouncing his position as NANS president following his refusal.
Isah also claimed that thugs loyal to Seyi Tinubu violently disrupted a student event at Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja on April 15, attacking guests and forcing dignitaries such as former governors Ibrahim Shekarau and Idris Wada to flee.
The accusations sparked a storm of criticism online and raised concerns about abuse of power by the president’s family. However, Seyi Tinubu swiftly denied the allegations, calling them “completely fictional” and “defamatory,” stating he had never met or communicated with Isah.
Backing Seyi Tinubu, Eshiofune Paul-Oghayan, President of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), also described Isah’s claims as “fabricated” and politically motivated.
In a dramatic reversal posted on Facebook this Wednesday, Isah apologised to Seyi Tinubu, Minister Olawande, and Nigerians, admitting the entire story was false and orchestrated by a rival, Ladoja Olusola, in a bid to remove him from office.
“There was no ₦100 million offer, no abduction, and no involvement of Mr Seyi Tinubu or the Honourable Minister in any plot against me,” Isah wrote.
“I was misled into making these false allegations. Ladoja Olusola fed me lies and half-truths to achieve his selfish goal of hijacking the NANS leadership.”
He also admitted that Seyi Tinubu was never present at the event he earlier claimed was attacked and retracted the assertion that the president’s son led armed thugs to the venue.
“In fact, I later found out that Mr Seyi was nowhere near the venue,” Isah confessed.
Isah went further to say that Olusola warned him that Seyi Tinubu could have him killed and the Inspector General of Police would help cover it up — a claim he now calls a “baseless scare tactic.”
“I made these claims based on the dangerous narrative painted for me by Olusola. I deeply regret allowing myself to be used in this way.”
The NANS leader ended his statement with a public apology and a commitment to clear the air fully in coming days.
