Son of President Bola Tinubu, Seyi Tinubu, has denied reports linking him to a ₦20 million donation to actress Sarah Martins’ Golden Heart Foundation.
Tinubu asserted that he does not support any act that violates the laws of Lagos State.
Bellnews reports that Martins had earlier cried out over alleged harassment by officials of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps while cooking for charity on a street median in Lekki.
She claimed the officials disrupted her outreach, seized her equipment, and left her with minor burns from hot oil during the altercation.
Following the incident, several Nigerians on social media expressed sympathy for her, with some notable figures reportedly contributing to help her secure a proper space for her charity work.
Announcing the alleged donation in an Instagram post on Friday, Martins had said, “From the office of the President, our philanthropic youth leader, Mr Seyi Tinubu, just supported my NGO with ₦20,000,000. He didn’t only give me ₦20,000,000 but also promised to take my free food charity outreach to the next level.”
However, in a statement shared on his Instagram story on Friday, Seyi said he had been informed that some of his friends, “moved by compassion,” raised funds to support a young woman who recently had an encounter with 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. I appreciate their kindness and concern,” he stated.
He, however, emphasised that while their intentions were good, he does not condone any action that breaches state regulations.
“That said, I must emphasise that 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 our law and order. Empathy and patriotism must always go together,” Seyi wrote.
He added that while citizens can support people in need, such efforts must be done “responsibly, in a way that uplifts lives while keeping faith with the rules and values that bind us as a community.”