The family of billionaire businessman Razaq Okoya has disputed claims by his estranged son, Fatai, about their decades-long separation, saying he continues to receive financial support from his father.
The family, in a statement issued on Thursday by Eleganza Industry Limited’s Senior Public Relations Manager, Nathaniel Omeninwan, accused Fatai of taking private family matters into the public domain to attract sympathy and discredit other family members.
While Fatai described himself as Okoya’s first child in his appeal, the family said in its statement that he was the businessman’s third child.
Fatai had recently appealed to his father for forgiveness after years of estrangement, recounting a money dispute and his marriage to a woman his father reportedly disapproved of.
However, the family said Fatai had fallen out with his father and stopped visiting him long before Okoya married his wife, Shade.
It added that the businessman had repeatedly stated publicly that any of his children unwilling to respect, appreciate and abide by his wishes would have to fend for themselves.
The family, however, maintained that Fatai had benefited substantially from his father and continued to receive assistance.
“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.
It also said four influential family friends had intervened in the dispute more than 40 years ago during an overnight meeting, after which Okoya agreed to settle Fatai with what he had requested.
The family also gave a different account of Fatai’s encounter with Shade during a medical outreach organised to mark Okoya’s 86th birthday.
Fatai had alleged that he attended the birthday celebration but was prevented from approaching his father.
However, the family said Shade was introduced to Fatai during the medical outreach, after which another family member advised him that the occasion was not an appropriate time or place to discuss his grievances with his father.
According to the statement, Fatai agreed with the advice and left the venue.
It added that Shade only exchanged pleasantries with him and said several guests witnessed the encounter.
The family said it did not want private disagreements discussed on social media, urging the public and media organisations to respect its privacy.
“No misunderstanding can be settled online,” the statement said, adding that any family member wishing to raise an issue with Okoya should do so privately through established family channels.
In his earlier appeal, Fatai said he had tried to reconcile with his father for 40 years 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.