The trial of social media influencer and relationship therapist Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, was on Wednesday adjourned until July 20 after she failed to appear before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, due to illness.
Blessing CEO is standing trial before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on a two-count charge filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on alleged obtaining by false pretence and the alleged theft of N36 million.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, defence counsel P.I. Nwafuru told the court that officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service informed him that his client was ill and unable to attend the proceedings.
He asked the court for an adjournment and assured the judge that a medical report would be presented at the next hearing.
Justice D.I. Dipeolu granted the request and adjourned the case until Monday, July 20, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
According to the EFCC, one of the charges alleges that Blessing CEO obtained N36 million from Mrs Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, by falsely claiming she could lease a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos.
The anti-graft agency said the alleged representation was false and constituted an offence under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
