Blessing CEO remanded in EFCC custody over N36m fraud

The Federal High Court sitting in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State has remanded a social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, fondly called Blessing CEO, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N36 million fraud.

This follows Blessing CEO’s arraignment by the EFCC on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N36,000,000 on Friday, May 15, 2026.

At the commencement of proceedings, the defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that the defendant had refunded part of the money (N24 million) to the petitioner.

Nwafor said: “We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24 million out of the N36 million.

“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.”

Responding, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, stated that the prosecution was not privy to 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,” he said.

In his ruling, Justice D.I. Dipeolu held that “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.”

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One of the counts read: “That you, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, between July 14 and 17, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did obtain the sum of N36,000,000 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 State, which representation you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”

Blessing CEO pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to her.

Following her plea, Suleiman 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 had only been served with the charge on Thursday, May 14, and that efforts were ongoing to file her bail application.

He, therefore, prayed that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection of her bail conditions.

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

The judge thereafter adjourned the matter till June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.