By Florencemary Nwabueze
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned a Nigerian social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before a Federal High Court in Ikoyi over an alleged N36 million fraud.
Blessing CEO was brought before Justice D.I. Dipeolu by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
The prosecution alleges that between July 14 and 17, 2024, the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N36 million from one Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the false pretext of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex in the upscale Lekki area of Lagos.
The defendant pleaded "not guilty" to both charges when they were read to her in court.
However, before her plea was taken, defence counsel P.I. Nwafor informed the court that the defendant had already refunded a significant portion of the money to the petitioner.
“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24 million out of the N36 million,” Nwafor said. “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.”
In response, prosecution counsel S.I. Suleiman argued that the prosecution was not a party to any discussions between the defendant and the complainant.
“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 stated.
Justice Dipeolu ruled that discussions between the defence and the complainant could continue but would not halt the court’s proceedings, ordering that the defendant take her plea.
One of the counts reads that Blessing CEO, between July 14 and 17, 2024, in Lagos, “did obtain the sum of N36,000,000.00 (Thirty-six Million Naira) from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the false pretence of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex situated at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, Off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State, which representation you knew to be false.” This offence is contrary to the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Another count also accuses her of fraudulently converting the same sum to her own use, an offence punishable under the Criminal Code Act.
Following her “not guilty” plea, the prosecution applied for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility.
However, the defence counsel pleaded that Blessing CEO be remanded in EFCC custody instead, noting that she was only served the charge on Thursday and that efforts were underway to file a bail application.
Justice Dipeolu granted the defence’s request, ordering that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the perfection of her bail conditions.
The matter has been adjourned until June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.