The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged N36 million fraud.
Blessing CEO was arraigned on Friday by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC before Justice D.I. Dipeolu sitting in Ikoyi on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and alleged stealing.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant allegedly obtained N36 million from one Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the guise of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos.
One of the charges stated that the alleged offence occurred between July 14 and 17, 2024, and accused the defendant of falsely representing that she could lease the property to the complainant, a claim the prosecution said she knew to be false.
Another count accused her of fraudulently converting the N36 million, said to belong to the complainant, for personal use, contrary to provisions of the Criminal Code Act.
At the commencement of proceedings, defence counsel P.I. Nwafor informed the court that his client had already refunded N24 million to the petitioner and requested a short adjournment to allow discussions on the repayment of the outstanding balance.
“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24 million out of the N36 million,” Nwafor told the court.
“We are asking for a short adjournment to resolve the outstanding balance. The nominal complainant agreed that if the balance is paid, they can prevail on the EFCC to drop the case,” he added.
However, prosecuting counsel S.I. Suleiman opposed the request, insisting that the Federal Government, and not the petitioner, was the complainant in the matter.
“The complainant here is the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we are here for the arraignment. We urge that the defendant take her plea, as that is the business of the day,” Suleiman said.
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu held that discussions between the defendant and the nominal complainant could continue independently without affecting the criminal proceedings before the court.
“The defence and the nominal complainant can have discussions even during the pendency of the charge. It does not affect the proceedings before the court. The defendant will take her plea,” the judge ruled.
Blessing CEO subsequently pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to her.
Following her plea, the prosecution asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial. However, defence counsel informed the court that the charges were only served on the defendant on Thursday, May 14, and that efforts were ongoing to file her bail application.
The defence thereafter requested that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection of her bail conditions.
Justice Dipeolu granted the application and ordered that Blessing CEO be remanded in EFCC custody. The matter was adjourned until June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
