Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has denied personally donating N20 million to actress Sarah Martins’ Golden Heart Foundation, clarifying that the funds were raised independently by some of his friends.
In a statement posted on his Instagram story, Tinubu said he was only informed that a group of his friends had contributed the money to support Martins after her encounter with law enforcement officials over an environmental violation in Lagos.
“I have been informed that some friends of mine, moved by compassion, raised funds to support a young woman who had an encounter with the law over an environmental violation,” Tinubu said. “Their intention, I believe, was to help her secure a proper space to run her business, not to undermine the law.”
He appreciated their concern but stressed that he does not condone any act that breaches Lagos State’s regulations. “Lagos thrives on order, and Nigeria’s strength depends on our collective respect for law and order. Empathy and patriotism must always go together,” he added.
The clarification followed Martins’ public claim that Tinubu had personally donated N20 million to her foundation after officials allegedly disrupted her outreach and seized equipment.
The Lagos State Government, through the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, defended the enforcement action, stating that Martins violated environmental and safety rules by cooking on a public road median. Wahab said while the state supports charitable activities, such efforts must comply with established laws to ensure public safety and order.
