Fatai Okoya has revealed that his marriage choice and a disagreement over money contributed to his decades-long estrangement from his billionaire father, Razaq Okoya, while alleging that Shade Okoya prevented a reunion at the industrialist’s 86th birthday celebration.

Fatai, who identifies himself as the first child of the Eleganza Group founder, made the claims during a live interview with Yeye Kudi Court Room.

His comments follow an emotional open letter in which he apologised to his father and appealed for an opportunity to rebuild their relationship after years apart.

During the interview, Fatai recalled a close relationship with his father before their disagreement, describing himself as his father’s favourite son. He said he would even wear his father’s clothes, using the memory to illustrate how affectionate their relationship had been.

He said their relationship deteriorated partly because he chose to marry a woman his father did not approve of.

Fatai explained that he was young and in love when he made the decision, which contributed to the breakdown of their once-close relationship.

He also acknowledged taking money from his father’s company when he was younger but disputed the suggestion that the amount was substantial.

According to Fatai, he was reckless at the time, but the money involved was not enough to buy a car. He did not disclose the amount or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He also recalled his grandmother’s intervention, saying she faced limitations in resolving the dispute without offending the billionaire industrialist.

Fatai’s account provides further details about the family rift he referenced in his earlier open letter, in which he apologised to his father and asked for a chance to reconcile.

He said the years apart had weighed on him and that he wanted to make peace while they still had time.

Fatai also alleged that an attempt to reconnect with his father at Razaq Okoya’s 86th birthday celebration was unsuccessful.

According to his account, he attended the event and was welcomed, but Shade intervened when he approached his father and told him he could not see her husband.

Fatai claimed his father saw him but did not speak to him before he was sent away. He said he had hoped to spend time with his father and was not seeking money or an inheritance.

Neither Shade Okoya nor Razaq Okoya had publicly responded to the allegations as of the time of this report. The account of the birthday encounter has not been independently verified. (Arise News)