Seyi Tinubu Denies NANS President’s ₦100M Bribery and Abduction Claims

Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, has vehemently denied accusations made by Atiku Abubakar Isah, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who claims that he was offered a bribe and abducted by forces linked to the Tinubu administration.

In a response posted to his Instagram on Friday, Tinubu called the allegations “completely fictional” and labeled them as an attempt to damage his personal and family reputation. “How can someone lie with so much confidence? This is clearly an attempt to defame my character,” he wrote, expressing disbelief over the seriousness of the accusations.

Isah had made these claims earlier in a press conference on Wednesday. He accused Seyi Tinubu and the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, of offering him ₦100 million in exchange for supporting President Bola Tinubu. Isah said he rejected the bribe, citing dissatisfaction with the administration’s performance. According to Isah, after turning down the offer, he was allegedly abducted on April 15, 2025, by a group of individuals that included prominent figures such as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). He described being beaten, stripped naked, and coerced into making a false statement under duress.

“They threatened to release a video of my torture and told me that nothing would happen even if I was killed because Seyi Tinubu could cover it up,” Isah claimed, adding that he was told influential figures like a ‘Ladoja’ could prevent any repercussions by contacting the Inspector General of Police.

In his response, Seyi Tinubu firmly denied these accusations, stressing that he had never met or interacted with Isah. “I have never held a meeting with Comrade Isah in Lagos or elsewhere,” he said. “I do not know him personally, and I did not visit any location with thugs as claimed.”

Despite the alleged threats, Isah, who has continued to lead NANS with vocal criticism of the government, reaffirmed his position and attended his inauguration as NANS president. He has vowed to continue exposing what he described as an abuse of power within the government, despite the pressure he claims to have faced.