President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, has publicly addressed the viral claim that he donated ₦20 million to Nollywood actress Sarah Martins’ Golden Heart Foundation, clarifying that the story making rounds on social media is misleading.
Seyi, who took to his Instagram Story on Friday to set the record straight, stated that while some of his close friends and associates raised funds to support a woman who was recently penalised by the Lagos State government for flouting environmental laws, he personally did not make any financial contribution to that cause.
According to him, the intention behind his friends’ donation was purely humanitarian, aimed at helping the woman find a better and more lawful means of livelihood — not an attempt to challenge or disobey the state’s environmental regulations.
“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 explained.
Seyi Tinubu went on to stress that although he supports charitable efforts and acts of compassion, he stands firmly behind the enforcement of laws and the need for citizens to operate within the boundaries of legality.
“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 stated.
The clarification follows an earlier post by actress Sarah Martins, who claimed that Seyi Tinubu donated ₦20 million to support her charitable organisation, the Golden Heart Foundation. The actress had expressed deep gratitude, noting that the funds would help her continue her outreach programs for underprivileged Nigerians.
Sarah Martins made headlines earlier in the week after she alleged that she was harassed by officials of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI) while cooking and distributing free food to the needy on a road median in Lekki.
Following the incident, she shared emotional videos showing her confrontation with the officers, claiming they destroyed some of her cooking items and disrupted her humanitarian outreach. Her story quickly went viral, drawing public sympathy and attention from prominent Nigerians, including those in Seyi Tinubu’s circle.
However, Seyi’s latest statement has now clarified that while some people around him may have chosen to assist Sarah out of compassion, the reported ₦20 million donation did not come from him personally.
The development has generated mixed reactions online. While some Nigerians praised Seyi Tinubu for his honesty and responsible stance on law enforcement, others criticised Sarah Martins for allegedly exaggerating the story to gain attention and sympathy.
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The incident continues to spark conversations about celebrity influence, misinformation, and the importance of verifying claims before they go viral in Nigeria’s social media space.