President Bola Tinubu has dismissed his former Special Assistant on Digital and Creative Economy, Fagbo Umunubo, who worked under the office of Vice President Kashim Shettima, after allegations linked him to multiple scams in the creative industry.
Sources within the presidency revealed that Umunubo allegedly exploited his office to strike dubious sponsorship deals with filmmakers and creatives, promising them government support, funding, and visibility that never materialized.
One of the high-profile cases involved filmmaker and author Arese Ugwu, creator of The Smart Money Woman series. Documents reportedly showed that Umunubo promised a ₦10 million sponsorship package for the marketing and premiere of Lara Unlimited, a spin-off of Ugwu’s work. The deal allegedly included promotional rights for the presidency’s digital economy office, advertisements before screenings, podcast mentions, and influencer shoutouts — none of which came to fruition.
Presidency’s Official Statement
The Presidency confirmed Umunubo’s dismissal in a statement signed by Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information and Public Relations at the State House.
The statement warned the public to desist from addressing Umunubo as a government official, stressing that “any Nigerian who engages with him as a member of this administration does so at his or her own risk.”
Analysts React: Dismissal Not Enough
Policy analyst Lekan Olayiwola described the sacking as decisive but highlighted deeper governance flaws.
“The president’s swift action is commendable, but this exposes the fragility of Nigeria’s accountability system. Too often, public officials treat access to power as personal capital rather than civic trust,” he said.
Olayiwola emphasized that Nigeria still relies heavily on executive discretion instead of independent institutional oversight, adding that real governance reform must go beyond dismissals.
“Governance risk management must be preventive, not reactive. Public appointees need clearly defined ethical boundaries, particularly in sensitive industries like entertainment and digital media where informal influence thrives,” he added.
He recommended stronger oversight mechanisms, public ethical codes, and mandatory disclosures of sponsorships to restore trust.
“Public office is stewardship, not a shortcut to influence,” he concluded. “Nigeria must institutionalize accountability to protect governance from reputational risks and erosion of public trust.”
Political Context
This development comes amid rising political tensions as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar intensifies his coalition movement ahead of the 2027 elections. Meanwhile, former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has once again denied rumors of aligning with Atiku’s coalition, insisting on his loyalty to Buhari’s values.
