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Blessing CEO arraigned by EFCC over N36m fraud in Lagos
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has indicted Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, a self-proclaimed relationship expert and therapist, over allegations of N36 million fraud.
She was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of EFCC on Friday at a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
According to the anti-graft agency, the social media influencer is facing a two-count charge which borders on obtaining money by false pretence and alleged stealing of N36 million.
Counsel for the defence P.I. Nwafor told the court during proceedings that a total of N24 million, which is part of the disputed sum, had been refunded to the petitioner by the defendant.
“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24 million out of the N36 million.
“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,” Nwafor submitted.
The prosecuting counsel S.I. Suleiman however posited that the EFCC was not part of any settlement deal, while urging the defendant to take her plea.
“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,” he noted.
The trial judge Justice D.I. Dipeolu ruled that the criminal proceedings before the court is unaffected by a deal between the parties.
“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 held.
According to the charges, Blessing CEO had allegedly obtained N36 million from one Mrs Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye, under the guise of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex in Lagos State, while also converting the said money for personal use. This according to the EFCC was both false and fraudulent.
The defendant who pleaded “not guilty” to the charges was granted an application to be remanded in EFCC custody against the request of the prosecution who wanted the defendant to be held in a correctional facility.
The court further fixed June 5, 2026, to commence trial.
Recall that Blessing CEO had been trending on the social media space lately on a separate fraud allegation, after a breast cancer survivor Deborah Mbara, based in Asaba, Delta State, accused her in a viral video of doctoring her medical reports to defraud members of the public.
Blessing’s ordeal began after claiming publicly to have been diagnosed with stage four cancer amid wailings and claims of auctioning off her belongings.
Petitions have been submitted against her to the police and the EFCC for investigation.
The Delta State Police Command confirmed receipt of a petition on the matter, while EFCC said it had started looking into her financial misconduct allegations.
