Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has refuted claims that he donated ₦20 million to Nollywood actress Sarah Martins for her charity organisation, the Golden Heart Foundation.
The clarification followed reports alleging that Tinubu made the contribution after Martins lamented harassment by the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps during a street charity event in Lekki.
Martins had accused the officials of disrupting her outreach, confiscating her equipment, and leaving her with minor burns from hot oil during the scuffle. The incident drew public sympathy, with several Nigerians offering financial support to her cause.
In a post on Instagram, Martins claimed that Seyi Tinubu had “supported her NGO with ₦20 million” and promised to elevate her charity efforts.
However, in a statement shared on his Instagram story on Friday, Seyi Tinubu dismissed the claim, saying he had only learned that some of his friends — “moved by compassion” — contributed funds to assist a young woman who had “encountered the law over an environmental violation.”
“Their intention, I believe, was to help her secure a proper space to run her business, not to undermine the law,” Tinubu said. “I appreciate their kindness and concern.”
He further stressed that he does not support any action that contravenes Lagos State regulations.
“While their hearts were in the right place, I do not support any act that violates the laws of Lagos State. Lagos thrives on order, and Nigeria’s strength depends on our collective respect for both law and order. Empathy and patriotism must always go together,” he wrote.
Tinubu added that while acts of kindness are commendable, such gestures should always align with the law and community values.
“Citizens can support people in need, but such efforts must be done responsibly, in ways that uplift lives while respecting the rules that bind us as a society,” he concluded.
