The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 has charged Blessing CEO, a social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, with an alleged N36 million fraud.
Blessing CEO, actual name Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, was charged on Friday before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
According to a statement posted on its website, the EFCC said that she is facing a two-count charge of collecting money under false pretense and suspected theft of N36 million.
During the hearings, defense attorney P.I. Nwafor informed the court that the defendant had already returned a portion of the money to the petitioner.
The lawyer said, “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.”
However, prosecuting attorney S.I. Suleiman said that the anti-graft agency was not involved in any private settlement discussions between the defendant and the petitioner.
“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 said.
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu ruled that any discussion between the defendant and the nominal complainant would not affect the criminal proceedings before the court.
“The defense 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 accusations, Blessing CEO reportedly collected N36 million from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, under the guise of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road in Lekki, Lagos State.
The EFCC said that the representation was untrue and violated the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006.
Another charge accused her of fraudulently diverting the funds to personal use, in violation of the Criminal Code Act.
The defendant has pled not guilty to the accusations.
Following her plea, the prosecution sought the court to place her in a detention facility until the trial.
Her attorney, however, informed the court that the defense had only been presented with the allegations on Thursday and was still working on a bail application.
He then urged that the defendant be held in EFCC prison pending completion of her bail conditions.
Justice Dipeolu granted the application and ordered Blessing’s CEO to be remanded in EFCC prison.
The trial was scheduled to begin on June 5, 2026.
