The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned the embattled President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Atiku Abubakar Isah, before a Magistrate Court sitting in Zone 6, Abuja.
Isah, who arrived in court dressed in all black, was charged with inciting public disturbance and impersonating a public officer, following weeks of tension stemming from a leadership tussle within the student body.
Isah’s arrest and arraignment follow reports that he was assaulted by a rival NANS faction, which he and his legal representatives claim is allegedly backed by President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu.
His lawyer, Marshal Abubakar of Falana & Falana Chambers, told SaharaReporters that his client was charged with offences bordering on disruption of public peace and misrepresentation.
“The DSS charged Atiku Isah with inciting students to breach the peace at a lawful student assembly and disrupting a meeting of individuals they claimed were the ‘elected’ leadership of NANS,” Abubakar stated.
He added that the DSS also accused Isah of falsely presenting himself as the president of NANS, despite ongoing disputes over the association’s authentic leadership.
Despite the gravity of the charges, the Magistrate Court granted Isah bail in the sum of ₦5 million, with one surety in like sum.
The court did not impose additional conditions for bail, but directed the surety to be a resident within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
