The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Blessing CEO, over an alleged N36 million fraud.
Blessing CEO, whose real name is Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, was arraigned before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and alleged stealing.
According to the EFCC, the charges arose from a transaction involving N36 million allegedly obtained under false claims.
During proceedings, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that his client had already refunded part 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,” he 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.”
However, prosecuting counsel, S.I. Suleiman, opposed the request, insisting that the anti-graft agency was not involved in any settlement discussions.
“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 stated.
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu clarified that private discussions between the defendant and the complainant would not affect 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.
According to one of the charges, Blessing CEO allegedly obtained N36 million from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, under the pretext of securing a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State.
The EFCC alleged that the representation was false and constituted an offence under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Another charge accused her of fraudulently converting the funds for personal use, contrary to the Criminal Code Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following her plea, the prosecution requested that she be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.
However, her lawyer informed the court that the defence had only been served with the charges on Thursday and was still preparing a bail application, requesting instead that she be kept in EFCC custody pending the perfection of bail conditions.
Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered that she be remanded in EFCC custody.
The matter was adjourned until June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
