Alleged N36m fraud: EFCC arraigns Blessing CEO in Lagos court

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged fraud involving N36 million.

She was arraigned before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

The EFCC alleged that Nkiruka obtained the sum of N36 million from one Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the guise of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos.

According to the prosecution, the defendant knew the representation to be false at the time the money was collected, an offence said to contravene Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

She was also accused of fraudulently converting the same sum to her personal use, contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act.

Blessing CEO

When the charges were read, the defendant pleaded not guilty.

At the start of proceedings, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that efforts were ongoing to resolve the matter out of court, stating that a portion of the alleged sum had already been refunded.

He told the court that N24 million had been paid back to the complainant and that discussions were ongoing to settle the outstanding balance.

“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,” the defence counsel said.

However, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, objected, stating that the Commission was not part of any such negotiation and that the matter before the court was a criminal charge instituted by the Federal Government.

“The complainant here is the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we are here for the arraignment. We urge that the defendant take her plea,” he said.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Dipeolu held that ongoing settlement discussions did not prevent the court from proceeding with arraignment, and ordered the defendant to take her plea.

Following the plea, the prosecution asked for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.

Defence counsel, however, informed the court that the defendant had only just been served with the charges and that a bail application was being prepared.

He urged the court to remand her in EFCC custody pending the hearing of the bail application.

Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.

The case was adjourned to June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.