• Seeks ₦38.3 billion In Damages
By Abiola Olawale
Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has filed a lawsuit against Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, over what he called alleged abduction and torture.
In the legal action, reportedly filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on May 14, 2025, Atiku Usah is seeking ₦38.3 billion in damages for alleged abduction, unlawful detention, and torture.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/966/2025, also accused the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) as Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, the Director-General and CEO of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos and Seyi Tinubu of what the petitioner referred to as gross violations of his fundamental human rights.
Represented by legal counsel Ugwueze I. Oduegbu and R.O. Ifebhor of Ajunwa & Co., Isah claims he was abducted, and detained for over 15 days without any formal charges.
The NANS leader alleged these actions stem from a violent leadership tussle within the student body, reportedly involving a rival faction backed by the establishment.
In the lawsuit, Isah is seeking a declaration that his abduction and detention violate his rights to freedom of movement under the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
He is also seeking an injunction to restrain the respondents from further acts of kidnapping, torture, or threats to his life.
Also, the NANS President is seeking the award of ₦32.87 billion in general damages and ₦5.5 billion in exemplary damages, totalling ₦38.3 billion.
Part of the lawsuit reads: “A declaration that the illegal physical threats to life and stabbing of the Applicant with a knife by the Respondents so as not to seek for and to abdicate his position as the President of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) amounts to the breach of the fundamental human rights to life of the Applicant and aggravation of the emotional torture arising from the said breach as provided for in Chapter iv of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended in 2011.
“An Order of the Honourable Court for the immediate and unconditional release of the Applicant from the detention of the 1st Respondent.
“An injunction against the Respondents restraining them from further kidnapping, beating, detention and physical threats to the life of the Applicant.
“An order of this Honourable Court against the 3rd Respondent to pay the sum of thirty-two billion, eight hundred and seventy million, (N32,870,000,000.00) naira only as General Damages for the breach of the fundamental human rights of the Applicant as stated in paragraphs 1 to 3 above.
“An order of this Honourable Court against the Respondents to pay the sum of five billion, five hundred million (N5,500,000,000.00) naira only to the Applicant as Exemplary damages overall breach of the fundamental human rights of the Applicant as stated in paragraphs 1 to 3 above and twenty per cent (20%) compounded interest on the judgment sum till same is totally paid and or the said judgment sum be paid into an interest yielding account of the Honourable Court as a condition of appeal on same.
“However, the grounds upon which the application is brought include the respondents’ blatant kidnapping, abduction, and indefinite detention of the applicant without any intention of release.”
The New Diplomat reports that the ongoing controversy goes back to a disputed NANS inauguration at the Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja, where Isah claimed he was attacked by a rival faction.
He alleged that Seyi Tinubu was involved in the moves to suppress his leadership, citing political motives tied to President Tinubu’s administration.
Earlier claims by Isah, made during an April 30, 2025, press conference, included accusations that Seyi Tinubu offered him a ₦100 million bribe to support the president’s re-election bid in 2027, which he rejected.
However, Isah later retracted these allegations in a May 7, 2025, Facebook post titled “Setting the Records Straight/Public Apology to Seyi Tinubu.”
He admitted the bribery and abduction claims were false, influenced by misinformation from another factional NANS leader, Olusola Ladoja.
