Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, his son, Seyi Tinubu, has emerged as one of the most controversial and polarizing figures in Nigeria’s sociopolitical landscape. Though holding no official government position, Seyi has frequently been at the center of high-profile incidents that have sparked national debates about nepotism, elite privilege, political interference, and transparency in the new administration.
From multimillion-dollar property acquisitions abroad to alleged interference in student union politics, his name has consistently dominated headlines — often blurring the line between private citizen and public power broker.
As Nigeria grapples with economic hardship and increasing calls for accountability in governance, the controversies surrounding Seyi Tinubu have become a litmus test for President Tinubu’s promise of renewed hope and reform. Whether viewed as a misunderstood philanthropist or a symbol of entrenched political dynasty, Seyi’s actions — and the reactions they provoke — continue to shape the public perception of his father’s administration.
The following is a detailed breakdown of the key controversies that have trailed Seyi Tinubu since his father’s ascent to power.
1.) NANS Leadership Bribery and Intimidation Allegations (Apr–May 2025)
Summary: In late April 2025 Comrade Atiku Isah (a factional president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS) publicly accused President Tinubu’s son Seyi of attempting to bribe him with ₦100 million to secure NANS support, and of arranging thugs to abduct and assault him when he refused. Seyi Tinubu flatly denied ever meeting or dealing with Isah and called the claims “completely fictional”.
Date/Context: The allegations surfaced around April 29–May 2, 2025 during a dispute over rival NANS leadership inaugurations. At a press briefing in Abuja (April 30), Isah detailed the bribery offer and violent disruption of a NANS event.
Public Reaction: Media outlets widely reported the incident. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (PDP presidential candidate) issued a statement urging President Tinubu to “rein in” his son and stop treating Nigeria as a “private estate”. NANS’s national body issued a statement accusing Seyi of unconstitutional interference in student affairs and even threatened nationwide protests over the harassment of its president.
Prominent Yoruba groups (e.g. Afenifere) and youth organizations (like the City Boy Movement) dismissed the allegations as politically motivated smears. On social media the claims provoked fierce debate, with supporters of Tinubu calling them fabrications and critics warning of growing authoritarianism.
Official Response/Fallout: Seyi Tinubu responded via Instagram, calling the allegations lies and defamation. The presidency, through spokesman Bayo Onanuga, defended Seyi’s right to business activities and criticized Atiku Abubakar’s hypocrisy on conflict-of-interest issues. No formal investigation or legal action against Seyi was announced. The episode highlighted tensions over alleged nepotism and undue influence; it also reminded some of President Tinubu’s own admonition (during the 2023 campaign) for his son to stay out of NANS affairs.
2.) London Mansion Purchase (May 2023)
A Bloomberg-report revealed that a company owned by Seyi Tinubu had purchased a £9 million ($10.8 million) London mansion in 2017. Notably, that property had belonged to Kolawole Aluko, a businessman whom Nigeria’s government accused of using embezzled funds to buy the home. Critics raised questions about the transaction, given the mansion’s history as a target of a federal assets-seizure effort.
Date/Context: The story broke on May, 2023, just days after President Tinubu’s inauguration. Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies had been pursuing Aluko over a $1.6 billion oil-trading debt; Aluko’s assets (including the London property) were under scrutiny by Buhari’s government. Seyi’s firm, Aranda Overseas, bought the house in 2017 while Aluko was out of the country. Bloomberg emphasized that President Tinubu himself was not implicated in the purchase.
Public Reaction: The revelation trended on Nigerian social media. Many Nigerians viewed it as suspiciously timed, expressing concern that “ill-gotten gains” might have passed through the Tinubu family. Discussion focused on the opacity of large property deals by political families. However, mainstream press coverage was relatively restrained: Channels TV reported the facts from Bloomberg without speculating on criminality. Aluko himself denied wrongdoing and cited a court judgment (Feb 2023) clearing him of the debt allegation.
Official Response/Fallout: Neither Seyi nor the Tinubu presidential team commented to the press. Channels TV noted that attempts to reach Seyi or the president’s spokesman went unanswered. Ultimately, no charges were filed against Seyi. The episode left a lingering impression of opacity around his businesses. Observers noted that while the government pursued Aluko, its own president’s son had acquired his seized asset – a point of public cynicism – but no formal inquiry or policy change followed.
3.) Use of Presidential Jet for Private Trip (Oct 2023)
In October 2023, photos and videos emerged of Seyi Tinubu arriving in Kano aboard the presidential jet to attend a private polo match. He was escorted by uniformed security personnel and greeted by state officials. Netizens sharply criticized what they saw as a blatant misuse of a public resource for leisure.
Date/Context: The incident occurred October 8–9, 2023, roughly five months into President Tinubu’s term. It followed a viral trend set by former President Buhari’s daughter using presidential transport for personal trips. Seyi’s trip was said to be unofficial – he went with friends and associates to watch Kano’s polo tournament.
Public Reaction: Media outlets and social-media users condemned the display. Gazette Nigeria quoted critics on X (Twitter) calling it an abuse of state assets: one user asked rhetorically, *“When did first son of the president become a political office?”.
Some Nigerians compared it to austerity hypocrisy, noting ordinary citizens were asked to tighten belts while the president’s son traveled in comfort. A few voices defended the security detail (pointing out it’s common for heads of state’s families to use official travel and protection), but the dominant tone was outrage at perceived entitlement.
Official Response/Fallout: No official statement was issued about the Kano trip. The presidency did not sanction Seyi or provide a justification. This controversy contributed to broader criticisms of nepotism and lavish spending by Tinubu’s family; it led to calls (from opposition lawmakers) for greater accountability on presidential fleet use. However, without any government response, the matter remained a source of public disapproval but no concrete fallout beyond debate.
4.) Yobe State Official Reception (March 2025)
Summary: On March 12, 2025, Seyi Tinubu visited Yobe State (as part of a Ramadan outreach tour) and was publicly welcomed at the Yobe airport by high-ranking state officials – a reception typically reserved for governors or ministers. A 30-second video showed the State Commissioner for Information introducing Seyi to dozens of officials, calling him a guest of honor, which many residents found astonishing for “a private citizen with no office.”
Date/Context: The incident came during Seyi’s “Ramadan goodwill tour” of northern states. After Kano, he flew to Damaturu, Yobe State on March 12, 2025. The elaborate airport reception (red carpet, official entourage) was unusual for the president’s son, who holds no public office.
Public Reaction: The welcome stirred immediate criticism. Local journalist Abba Machina wrote that it was “political servility at its worst” and “an affront” to see public servants queueing to greet the president’s son. University lecturer Sheriff Ibrahim also lamented that extending such honors to a non-official smacked of nepotism. Social media in Yobe buzzed with ridicule and anger at the perceived sycophancy. Some defenders argued that Seyi’s visit was essentially a state-sponsored event (given his charitable work), but even many supporters thought the level of ceremony was inappropriate. A few union or youth groups condemned it as misuse of public resources for privilege.
Official Response/Fallout: Yobe’s Information Commissioner (featured in the video) later told the press he was merely executing orders and on official duty. He later deleted his Facebook defense after pushback. No state or federal official was disciplined. Nationally, the incident added to the discourse on Tinubu’s family privilege; commentators likened it to the presidential jet episode. It prompted some allies to caution against such displays. However, the government dismissed it as a local decision, and nothing beyond media condemnation occurred.
5.) Coastal Highway Contract Conflict-of-Interest (May 2024)
In May 2024, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar accused President Tinubu of a conflict of interest because his son Seyi was a director on the board of CDK Integrated Industries, whose shareholders include the Chagoury Group – the parent company of Hitech Construction, the firm awarded the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway contract. Atiku argued that Seyi’s board role meant the Tinubu family had stakes in the project.
Date/Context: The dispute flared on May 5–7, 2024, shortly after the contract award was public. Atiku, now PDP’s 2023 presidential nominee, made the claim in media interviews. Lagos-Calabar is a high-profile infrastructure project, and opposition figures seized on any sign of nepotism.
Public Reaction: The allegation was covered by national papers and amplified by opposition supporters. Critics questioned whether Seyi stood to gain personally from the contract. Supporters of the administration dismissed Atiku’s claim as hypocritical politicking. A youth advocacy group (Forum for Good Governance) even released a statement defending Seyi’s right to business, pointing out that he joined CDK’s board in 2018 and calling the conflict claim baseless. The story fed into a broader narrative about Tinubu-era nepotism, but also prompted defenders to cite Seyi’s legal right to private enterprise.
Official Response/Fallout: The Presidency quickly responded through aide Bayo Onanuga, saying Seyi “has the right to pursue legitimate business interests” worldwide and attacking Atiku for past conflicts of interest of his own. The statement clarified that Seyi had been on CDK’s board since 2018, before his father became president. No action was taken to cancel or revisit the contract.
The controversy largely subsided after the administration’s rebuttal, but it underscored public sensitivity to the president’s family doing business with politically connected firms. (Parliamentary committees later probed presidential jet usage and contracts, but did not single out Seyi for discipline.)
6) Controversial Honorary Doctorate from UNIZIK (Mar 2025)
In early 2025 reports surfaced that Nnamdi Azikwe University (UNIZIK) planned to confer an honorary doctorate on Seyi Tinubu. This decision met immediate controversy; critics argued Seyi had done nothing to merit such an honor and accused the university of nepotism.
Date/Context: The announcement came shortly before UNIZIK’s 19th convocation in March 2025. Alongside Seyi, other honorees included high-profile figures. Students and academics noted that Seyi was best known as “the president’s son” with business ties, not for scholarly or philanthropic achievements.
Public Reaction: The news sparked an online storm. Activists like Omoyele Sowore publicly denounced the plan as “fraudulent and undeserved” (as reported on social media). A widely-circulated Medium exposé summarized the backlash: citizens questioned what contributions warranted an honorary doctorate for Seyi, with many viewing it as political favoritism. Student groups reportedly considered protests (there were unconfirmed social-media claims of discontent at convocation). Most media coverage framed it as another example of elite entitlement. Only a few saw it as a harmless prestige award.
Official Response/Fallout: UNIZIK did not issue a strong public statement beyond listing the honorees (including Seyi). In the end, Seyi did not attend the ceremony to receive the degree (as some outlets noted), which may have defused confrontation. Nonetheless, the incident became part of the narrative about Tinubu’s family accruing privileges. There was no formal reversal or apology, but the event generated sustained debate about meritocracy.
7) Ramadan Outreach and Public Backlash (March 2025)
Summary: During Ramadan 2025, Seyi Tinubu carried out a series of public charitable activities (distributing food, cooking meals, and giving gifts in northern communities). He branded these as personal humanitarian efforts. However, detractors accused him of electoral politicking, pointing to slogans and fanfare accompanying the giveaways.
Date/Context: Throughout March 2025 (including mid-Ramadan visits to Kano, Kaduna, Yola, Gombe, etc.), Seyi met governors, religious leaders, and youth groups, offering rice, cooked meals (Danwake), computers for students, and cash to traders. Critics noted he often arrived in presidential convoys, and events featured music and chants in praise of President Tinubu.
Public Reaction: The initiative provoked mixed reactions. Some beneficiaries were grateful for relief amid economic hardship. But a growing segment saw it as a thinly veiled campaign tactic. A viral Hausa-language video angrily questioned why Seyi was distributing rice instead of creating lasting jobs. When Seyi spoke emotionally in Yola defending the gesture, it prompted further criticism that he was trying to pre-empt dissent.
In Gombe State, reports emerged of hungry youths looting boxes of Seyi’s donated supplies intended for distribution – a scene often interpreted as symbolic of public impatience. Political commentators (e.g. Bello Galadanchi) argued that voters were rejecting “stomach infrastructure” and seeing through the strategy. Opposition parties’ leaders linked the pushback to dissatisfaction with Tinubu’s broader economic policies.
Official Response/Fallout: Seyi defended his actions as non-political, praising his father’s administration for youth empowerment and claiming critics were attacking his “family”. The Tinubu campaign did not hold him to account, but neither did they amplify the story once it turned negative. APC officials suggested that giving aid during Ramadan was traditional and acceptable – the issue was only raised by opponents. In practice, there was no government sanction; but the backlash signaled popular resentment. Media commentary noted that while charity from politicians is common, the optics were particularly bad this time because of the Tinubu administration’s unpopularity in the North.
Discussion about this post