DSS Frees Factional NANS President Isah After Weeks in Custody

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Atiku Abubakar Isah, the embattled factional president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), after nearly two months in detention.

According to Sahara Reporters, Isah was freed on Thursday and handed over to his family and legal representatives following intense public criticism and legal action. His release came despite earlier delays, even after he had met all bail conditions.

A report had surfaced earlier in the day stating that the DSS refused to release him despite completing additional paperwork on Wednesday. However, shortly after the report gained traction, DSS operatives contacted his family and lawyer to come and collect him at their Abuja facility.

Isah had appeared in court on Tuesday, dressed in black and reportedly still recovering from physical injuries allegedly inflicted by a rival NANS faction. He was granted bail of ₦5 million with one surety.

His lawyer, Marshal Abubakar of Falana & Falana Chambers, said the DSS accused him of “inciting public disturbance” and “impersonating a public officer,” claiming he disrupted a rival NANS meeting and falsely claimed the NANS presidency.

The controversy intensified when Isah accused Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, of offering him a ₦100 million bribe to step down from his position. He said his refusal led to his abduction, public humiliation, and assault, allegedly in the presence of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Managing Director.

Isah is now suing the DSS, NTA, and Seyi Tinubu for ₦38.3 billion in damages over alleged kidnapping, illegal detention, assault, and defamation in a fundamental human rights lawsuit filed on May 14, 2025.