Alleged 40-year-old feud: ‘Fatai is third child, not first… he got four flats, financial support,’ Okoya family breaks silence

The family of billionaire industrialist Razaq Okoya has disputed Fatai Okoya’s claim to be his first child, stating that he is the third child and has received substantial support from his father, including four flats in Lagos.

Fatai recently made a public appeal to reconcile with his 86-year-old father after four decades of estrangement, describing his rejection as painful.

He claimed to be Okoya’s first child and accused his father’s wife, Shade Okoya, of preventing him from seeing the industrialist on his birthday.

However, in a statement issued through Eleganza Industries Ltd and signed by its senior public relations manager, Nathaniel Omeninwan, the family described Fatai’s action as an attempt to attract public sympathy, gain attention and “unfairly damage” other family members.

The statement said Fatai’s disagreement with his father began years before Okoya married Shade.

It also recalled that Razaq had repeatedly stated that any child unwilling to respect and abide by his wishes would have to fend for themselves.

The family listed some of the support Fatai had received, including four flats in Ogunlana, Surulere, where he lives, as well as occasional payments towards his medical bills.

It added that the billionaire had supported all his children, including those who established businesses independently, describing any account that overlooked this assistance as unfair.

“The Okoya family finds it regrettable that Fatai Okoya (who is in fact the third child of Aare Rasaq Okoya, CON) has dragged what are otherwise private family matters into the public domain to attract public sympathy, gain attention and unjustifiably discredit other family members. Fatai Okoya fell out with his father and stopped visiting him long before his father married Chief Mrs Shade Okoya, MON,” the statement reads.

“Aare Rasaq Okoya, CON, has also publicly stated on numerous occasions that any child of his who is not prepared to respect, appreciate and abide by his wishes is on their own.

“Fatai Okoya has benefited immensely from his father and continues to benefit. 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 family also recalled that four influential friends intervened in the dispute more than 40 years ago, convening an all-night meeting to resolve the disagreement. Although surprised by Fatai’s demands, they agreed that his father should meet them, and the meeting took place.

“Surprised by what Fatai was asking for, they still concluded that his father should settle him with what he was asking for, and this was carried out accordingly,” the statement reads.

The family further said that during a medical outreach organised to mark Okoya’s 86th birthday, Shade Okoya was introduced to Fatai.

According to the statement, another family member advised Fatai that the event was not an appropriate setting to discuss his grievances with his father. It said Fatai agreed and subsequently left the venue.

“On that advice, which Fatai Okoya agreed with, he left the medical outreach venue. Other than exchanging pleasantries with him, Chief Mrs Shade Okoya, MON, said nothing to him that day, and several guests witnessed the entire incident.

“Aare and Chief Mrs Okoya, and indeed the entire Rasaq Okoya family, are very quiet, private and easygoing citizens focused on their family, their charitable work and their businesses.

“Chief Mrs Okoya respects her husband and his wishes. They do not intend to turn private affairs into disputes to air or discuss on social media. No misunderstanding can be settled online.”