Social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged N36 million fraud case in Lagos.
The EFCC disclosed in a statement shared via its official X handle on Friday that Blessing CEO was arraigned before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant allegedly obtained N36 million from one Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, under the pretext of securing a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, Off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State.
One of the charges stated that the social media influencer knowingly made false representations in connection with the property transaction, an offence said to contravene the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The EFCC further alleged that Blessing CEO fraudulently converted the N36 million, said to belong to the complainant, for personal use.
During the court 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 settle the outstanding balance.
According to the defence, discussions were ongoing with the nominal complainant, who allegedly agreed to intervene with the EFCC if the balance was fully repaid.
However, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, insisted that the Federal Government of Nigeria remained the complainant in the matter and urged the court to proceed with the arraignment.
Justice Dipeolu ruled that discussions between the defendant and the complainant would not affect the ongoing proceedings and directed that the charges be read.
Blessing CEO 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.
Defence counsel, however, appealed for her to remain in EFCC custody while efforts were made to perfect her bail application, noting that the charges had only been served on May 14, 2026.
The court subsequently ordered that Blessing CEO be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter until June 5, 2026, for commencement of trial.