The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned the social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Blessing CEO, over an alleged N36 million fraud.
Blessing CEO, real name, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, was today, arraigned before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, reports The PUNCH.
EFCC in a statement released on its website said she is facing a two-count allegation bordering on acquiring money by false pretence and suspected stealing of N36 million.
During proceedings, defence attorney P.I. Nwafor told the court that the defendant had refunded part of the money to the petitioner.
“We have an application to make,” replied the lawyer. The defendant went to the notional complaint and refunded N24 million of the N36 million.
“We’re asking for a brief adjournment to pay the balance owed. The EFCC spokesman acknowledged that once the remainder is paid, they can persuade the EFCC to drop the case.”
However, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, maintained that the anti-graft agency was not a party to any private settlement talks between the defendant and the petitioner.
“The complainant in this matter is the Federal Government of Nigeria and we are here for the arraignment. “The business of the day is to take the defendant’s plea and we push that be done,” he stated.
Justice Dipeolu in his order said any discussion between the defendant and the nominal complainant would not affect the criminal proceedings before the court.
“The defence and the nominal complainant can have discussions even during pendency of the charge It does not prejudice the proceedings before the court. The defendant will take her plea, the judge ruled.
The Blessing CEO was accused of defrauding Mrs Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye of N36 million between July 14 and 17, 2024, on the pretense of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State.
The EFCC said the representation was false and an offence under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Another count said she defrauded the amount for personal use contrary to the norms of the Criminal Code Act.
The defendant denied the charges.
The prosecution sought to put her in a detention facility until trial after her plea.
However, her counsel informed the court that the defence was only issued with the charges yesterday and was still preparing a bail motion.
He then asked that the defendant be kept in EFCC prison pending the completion of her bail conditions.
Justice Dipeolu granted the application and ordered that Blessing CEO be remanded in the custody of EFCC.
The matter was deferred to June 5, 2026, for the trial to begin.
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