…Refunds N24m, pleads not guilty as court remands her in EFCC custody
Eshioromeh Sebastian
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, arraigned a social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
She faces a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N36,000,000 (Thirty-six Million Naira).
The EFCC alleged that between July 14 and 17, 2024, Blessing CEO obtained the sum from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the false pretence of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex situated at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, Off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos.
According to the charge sheet, the representation was false, and her actions contravened Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
A second count also accused her of fraudulently converting the same sum, an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
At the commencement of proceedings, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that Blessing CEO had refunded N24 million of the N36 million to the petitioner.
“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24 million out of the N36 million,” Nwafor said.
He asked for a short adjournment to resolve the outstanding balance, adding that the nominal complainant had agreed to prevail on the EFCC to drop the case if the balance was paid.
However, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, countered that the prosecution was not aware of any discussion between the defendant and the nominal complainant.
“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,” Suleiman said.
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu held that the defence and the nominal complainant could continue discussions even while the charge was pending, adding that it did not affect proceedings before the court.
“The defendant will take her plea,” the judge ordered.
Blessing CEO pleaded “not guilty” to both counts when they were read to her.
Remanded in EFCC custody
Following her plea, the prosecution applied for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.
The defence counsel, however, informed the court that Blessing CEO was only served with the charge on Thursday, May 14, 2026, and that efforts were ongoing to file her bail application. He prayed that she be remanded in EFCC custody instead of a correctional centre, pending the perfection of her bail conditions.
Justice Dipeolu granted the application and ordered that Blessing CEO be remanded in EFCC custody.
The matter was adjourned till June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
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