Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has slammed President Bola Tinubu over the allegations of assault and abduction against his son, Seyi.
Seyi has come under accusations of assaulting and abducting, Atiku Isah, a factional President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, allegations his camp has firmly denied and described as politically motivated.
Isah told a press conference in Abuja that he was brutalised and abducted on April 15 after rejecting a N100m bribe allegedly offered by Seyi and the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, to support the Tinubu’s administration.
Isah said he was stripped, attacked, and held against his will by unidentified thugs for turning down the offer,
The NANS leader said the assault against him was shortly after a meeting in Lagos, where he claimed the bribe attempt was made.
In a statement through his spokesperson, Paul I’ve, Atiku
condemned the alleged assault against Atiku Isah, a factional President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, warning that Nigeria should not be run like the personal property of the first family.
“It is intolerable that the first family would seek to subjugate NANS or any civil society group through threats, bribes, or brute force.
“The presidency is a public trust, not a private inheritance,” Atiku said, and demanded for an independent investigation into Isah’s claims, urging Nigerians to resist any attempt to silence dissent.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, also reacted to the incident on his X handle on Friday, asking, “What is going on here? Is there a denial by the named culprits or any response from law enforcement agencies or inquiries by human rights organisations? We must ask questions, demand answers and action!! #JusticeforNANSPresident – @elrufai.”
But Seyi has denied ever meeting Isah or being involved in any such incident, saying the allegations was a fabrication designed to tarnish his reputation.
“Wow… how can someone lie with so much confidence? An attempt to defame my character. May God be with you, Comrade Atiku Isah,” Seyi wrote.
“I have never held a meeting to discuss any subject matter with Comrade Isah in Lagos or anywhere else in the world. I have never knowingly met him before, nor did I visit any location with thugs. All these allegations are completely fictional,” he added.
