The family of billionaire businessman Razaq Okoya has disputed his estranged son Fatai’s account of their decades-long separation, insisting that he continues to receive financial assistance from his father.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Nathaniel Omeninwan, Senior Public Relations Manager of Eleganza Industry Limited, the family accused Fatai of bringing private disagreements into the public domain to gain sympathy and discredit other family members.
The family also disputed Fatai’s description of himself as Okoya’s first child, saying he was the businessman’s third child.
Fatai had recently appealed to his father for forgiveness after years of estrangement, recounting a dispute over money and his marriage to a woman his father reportedly disapproved of.
However, the family said the disagreement began long before Okoya married his wife, Shade, adding that Fatai had stopped visiting his father.
Despite the estrangement, the family maintained that Fatai had continued to benefit from the businessman’s support.
“Fatai Okoya has benefited immensely from his father and continues to benefit to date. He lives in, and has been given, four flats by his father in Ogunlana Surulere, and has at times been receiving payment for his medical bills,” the statement said.
The family also said four influential friends intervened in the dispute more than 40 years ago during an overnight meeting, after which Okoya agreed to meet Fatai’s demands.
Family disputes account of birthday encounter
The statement also challenged Fatai’s account of his encounter with Shade during a medical outreach organised to mark Okoya’s 86th birthday.
Fatai had said he attended the celebration but was prevented from approaching his father.
The family, however, said Shade was introduced to him during the outreach and exchanged pleasantries with him.
According to the statement, another family member advised Fatai that the event was not an appropriate setting to discuss his grievances with his father. The family said he accepted the advice and subsequently left the venue.
It added that several guests witnessed the encounter.
The family urged the public and media organisations to respect its privacy, maintaining that disagreements should be addressed through private discussions rather than social media.
“No misunderstanding can be settled online,” the statement said, advising any family member seeking to resolve an issue with Okoya to use established family channels.
Fatai seeks reconciliation
In his earlier appeal, Fatai said he had spent 40 years trying to reconcile with his father and asked him to forgive his past behaviour and give their relationship another chance.
He also said his daughter wanted to establish a relationship with her grandfather and appealed to people close to the businessman to help facilitate a reunion.
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