NANS President Sues DSS, NTA, Seyi Tinubu for ₦38 Billion Over Alleged Abduction and Torture

President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah, has filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking over ₦38 billion in damages over his alleged abduction and continued detention by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Filed on May 14, 2025, the suit—FHC/ABJ/CS/966/2025—names the DSS Director-General, Director of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), and Mr. Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, as the 1st to 3rd respondents, respectively.

Represented by lawyers Ugwueze I. Oduegbu and R.O. Ifebhor of Ajunwa & Co., Isah is seeking a series of declarations and judicial reliefs, including:

• A declaration that his detention for over 15 days without formal charges violates his rights to freedom of movement and liberty, as enshrined in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

• A finding that the alleged torture, beatings, stabbing, and psychological abuse he suffered constitute inhuman and degrading treatment, prohibited under Section 34 of the Constitution and Articles 5 and 16 of the African Charter.

• An order for his immediate and unconditional release from DSS custody.

• An injunction restraining the DSS, NTA, and Seyi Tinubu from further detaining, threatening, or harming him in any way.

Isah is also seeking:

• ₦32.87 billion in general damages

• ₦5.5 billion in exemplary (punitive) damages

• 20% compound interest on the total judgment sum until payment is completed or deposited in an interest-yielding court account.

Background: NANS Crisis and Alleged Political Involvement

The case arises from a violent leadership crisis within NANS. During his inauguration at the Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja, Isah was reportedly attacked by a rival student faction allegedly enjoying the backing of political heavyweights, including Seyi Tinubu.

After sustaining serious injuries, Isah was taken to a DSS medical facility for treatment. However, he was allegedly abducted by DSS operatives and has not been seen publicly since.

Family Raises Alarm: “DSS Operating Like Bandits”

In a statement to SaharaReporters, a family member voiced concern over Isah’s disappearance, describing the DSS’s actions as akin to “banditry.”

“They took him from a clinic where he was receiving treatment after a near-fatal attack, and we haven’t heard from him since,” the relative said.
“Meanwhile, those who assaulted him are walking free. His wife and child are traumatized.”

What’s Next?

The court is expected to fix a hearing date for the matter, which could become a test case for human rights enforcement and executive accountability in Nigeria—especially given the political sensitivities involving a sitting president’s son.

As the legal battle unfolds, the suit has already sparked intense debate across student unions, civil society groups, and legal circles.