Popular social media personality and self-acclaimed relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, widely known as Blessing CEO, has been dragged before a Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged N36 million fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) hauled the influencer before Justice D.I. Dipeolu at the Ikoyi division on Friday, where she faced a two-count charge involving stealing and obtaining money under false pretences. The anti-graft agency accused her of swindling a victim, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye, of the hefty sum between July 14 and 17, 2024.
The prosecution alleged that Blessing CEO collected the N36 million under the guise of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, Off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos. The state maintains she knew the representation was entirely false, an action that breaches both the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006, and the Criminal Code Act.
When the charges were read out in the courtroom, Blessing CEO firmly pleaded not guilty.
Before the plea was taken, a mild drama unfolded as her defense lawyer, P.I. Nwafor, tried to stall the arraignment. He informed the court that his client had already made significant moves to settle the matter out of court by refunding N24 million out of the N36 million to the complainant. Nwafor pleaded for a brief adjournment, hinting that the complainant had agreed to petition the EFCC to drop the case once the remaining balance was cleared.
However, the EFCC prosecutor, S.I. Suleiman, quickly shot down the defense’s strategy. He argued that the commission was completely unaware of any private truce, reminding the court that the Federal Government of Nigeria is the actual complainant in the matter. Suleiman insisted that the day’s business was the arraignment and urged the judge to proceed.
Justice Dipeolu sided with the prosecution, ruling that private settlement talks cannot obstruct ongoing court proceedings. He ordered the defendant to take her plea immediately.
With the “not guilty” plea officially recorded, the prosecution counsel requested a formal trial date and asked that the influencer be sent to a correctional facility. In a swift counter-move, the defense counsel explained that they were only served the court papers a day prior and were still processing her bail application. He begged the court to keep her in EFCC custody instead of a regular prison.
Justice Dipeolu granted the defense’s request, ordering that Blessing CEO be remanded in the custody of the EFCC until her bail conditions are sorted out.
