Atiku Abubakar Isah, who has styled himself as President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, has publicly recanted the allegations he made against Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, admitting that his claims were false and influenced by internal student politics.
In a video that recently went viral on social media, Atiku alleged that Seyi Tinubu and the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Ayodele Olawande, had invited him to Lagos and offered him a bribe of N100 million to declare support for President Tinubu. According to the viral clip, he claimed that his refusal to accept the offer led to his abduction on April 15, 2025.
Atiku had further alleged that after being kidnapped, he was stripped naked and severely beaten. He claimed the Managing Director of the Nigerian Television Authority was aware of the incident. He also said he was taken to the NTA where an “involuntary statement purportedly abdicating my position as NANS President was obtained under duress.”
However, in a dramatic turnaround, Atiku has now apologised to Seyi Tinubu, admitting that the allegations he made were fabricated. He shared an apology letter via his Facebook page, in which he retracted the accusations and redirected the blame towards Ladoja Olusola, whom he referred to as the duly-elected NANS president.
In the letter, Atiku stated, “It has become imperative to note 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 the lies and half truths for the sole purpose of achieving his selfish agenda of taking over the reigns of the student body through the back doors.”
He also claimed that Olusola instilled fear in him by portraying Seyi Tinubu as a dangerous figure. “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,” he wrote.
Atiku went on to withdraw another key claim he had previously made—that Seyi Tinubu led thugs to disrupt his inauguration as NANS president.
He stated, “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. Infact, I later found out that Mr Seyi was nowhere near the venue.”
Reacting to the retraction, NANS Public Relations Officer, Samson Ajasa, expressed disbelief at Atiku’s latest claims, particularly the shifting of blame to a rival he had previously opposed by forming a faction within the student body.
“Of course it is natural for him to shift the blame after realising that his allegation against Seyi Tinubu couldn’t stick. How can you base your claims on an advised allegedly received from the same Ladoja Olusola you formed a NANS faction against? I’m glad the media can now see him for who he is,” Ajasa said.
