By Nkechi Eze
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over an alleged N36 million fraud.
According to an official signed statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, the defendant was arraigned on Friday, May 15, 2026, by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Commission before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Blessing CEO fraudulently obtained the sum of N36 million from one Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the guise of securing a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, Off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State.
At the commencement of proceedings, counsel to the defendant, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that his client had refunded N24 million to the petitioner and requested a short adjournment to allow parties resolve the outstanding balance.
“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24 million out of the N36 million,” Nwafor told the court.
“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,” he added.
Responding, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, maintained that the Federal Government remained the complainant in the matter and urged the court to proceed with the arraignment.
“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 discussions between the defence and the nominal complainant could continue during the pendency of the case without affecting the proceedings before the court.
“The defence 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.
One of the charges alleged that the defendant, between July 14 and 17, 2024, obtained N36 million from Mrs. Okoye under false pretence by claiming the money was for the lease of the Lekki property, an act said to contravene the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The second charge accused her of fraudulently converting the N36 million, said to be the property of Mrs. Okoye, to personal use contrary to provisions of the Criminal Code Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following her plea, the prosecution applied for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.
However, defence counsel informed the court that the defendant was only served with the charges on Thursday, May 14, 2026, and that efforts were ongoing to file a bail application.
He subsequently prayed the court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending the perfection of bail conditions.
Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered that Blessing CEO be remanded in EFCC custody.
The matter was adjourned until June 5, 2026, for commencement of trial.
