Fegho Umunubo, the former Special Assistant for Digital and Creative Economy to Vice President Kashim Shettima, clarified why he signed several project agreements without receiving official approval.
In response to the allegations that led to his dismissal, he clarified the clarification in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.
Umunubo explained that his team supported close to 50 projects and that he had developed a system to manage the volume of funding requests from creative industry players.
“I received a lot of requests for money,” I thought. I needed to create a structure because it was challenging for me to manage everyone. Although we promised to support you, you had 60 working days before the funds could be released.
It’s not my money, they say. To help them, I had to go looking for funding.
He explained that’s why I made agreements because I needed documentation to be presented, and I used my office to do that.
Ex-Minister Nnaji claims that my resignation was not a confession of guilt.
Umunubo admitted when asked if he had received vice president’s approval.
“I made the error,” I said. I had reports submitted for every action I took in that office.
“People in the Villa were aware of everything I was doing, but I never told my boss.” He claimed that he did it because he needed documentation.
He acknowledged that being unaware of his boss was his only mistake, but it was never what he had initially believed to be.
“It was my boss’s fault for not disclosing that I was signing agreements with guys.” If I could fix anything, he continued, “I didn’t think it was anything,” and that is what I would change.
Umunubo’s rebuttal came after his dismissal for allegedly shady dealings and office bribes.
He was accused of interfering with organizations under the Ministry of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy and signing deals without getting approval from the government.
However, his dispute with Arese Ugwu, who claimed he had broken a $10 million sponsorship deal, attracted attention.
In September 2025, the presidency suspended and later terminated him, warning allies not to do business with him on behalf of the government.
Why I backed Arase’s project?
Umunubo stated that his office sponsored her project because she had a good one and that he backed her because of the Arese Ugwu controversy.
“For Arase, we were sponsoring her for the first time,” she said. The Smart Money Woman was one of four premieres that we sponsored. The agreement had 60 working days after her event took place on October 24, 2024.
Arase received its first payment on November 14; it wasn’t even within its 60-day working day. She returned and demanded more money, but we replied that we didn’t have.
“I don’t respond whenever they send requests,” I say. He explained that when we gave her that agreement to sign, there was a clause that said, “You’d give us time if we could pay in 60 working days.”
Never Scammed or Embezzled Funds
The former vice president’s assistant, who denied any allegations of fraud, argued that he had receipts for every transaction.
“I never frauded, extorted, or extorted money.” I have all the supporting documentation available. He said, “My efforts and support will speak for me.”
Umunubo also refuted allegations of misconduct, saying that his creative works “spoke for themselves,” and that he had no regrets about working for the Creative Economy Office.
“I want to serve, so I don’t regret making the appointment.” He continued, “I never regret supporting the creative industry or working on the work.”
Prior to the controversy, he oversaw a number of youth-focused initiatives, including the $5 billion Creative Fund, which aims to train 60 000 Nigerians and create 2.7 million jobs by 2025.
The fund’s 2024 distributions had already begun, with a total of $1. 5 billion reportedly going to four actors and producers in the first batch. In the interview, Omunubo confirmed this.
