Police, EFCC open investigations as Blessing CEO’s cancer claims unravel

Social media personality Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, faces deepening legal jeopardy as both the Nigeria Police Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have opened investigations into allegations that she falsified a cancer diagnosis and used a doctored medical report to solicit donations from the public.

The Delta State Police Command confirmed it had received a petition on the matter, while the EFCC said it had begun looking into allegations of financial misconduct linked to the influencer.

“We acknowledge the petitions; we are waiting for the complainants to come and give us their statement. We will thereafter investigate,” Delta State Police Public Relations Officer Edefa Bright revealed.

The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said, “There was a petition submitted; we received it and we are going to look into it. Whatever comes out of our findings will determine our next line of action.”

The controversy erupted after Okoro claimed to be battling stage four cancer, drawing sympathy and financial support from thousands of followers. Suspicions mounted when inconsistencies in her claims triggered widespread backlash online.

The Nigerian Medical Association in Delta State subsequently disowned the histology report linked to her, revealing that the document was originally issued on May 9, 2025, by Xinus Medical Diagnostics in Asaba to a breast cancer survivor, Deborah Mbara, following a referral for a confirmatory breast cancer test.

Mbara, who runs a beauty business in Asaba, said she met Okoro in 2025 while working as a make-up artist for her.

She alleged that after seeing the influencer’s public claims of battling cancer, she reached out to offer support and provided her medical report when Okoro requested to compare it with hers. She later accused Okoro of doctoring the document to solicit public donations.

In a recent interview with social media influencer Egungun of Lagos, Okoro retracted her claims of having stage four cancer and admitted raising N13m from the public, but insisted she owed no one an apology.

Through her lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, Mbara filed a petition before the EFCC urging the agency to investigate.

The petition alleged that Okoro’s actions contravened the Cybercrime Act 2015, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, and other relevant Nigerian laws.

“Our client is traumatised and emotionally depressed as her medical records are now on social media, television houses, and other public spaces. It is only when the fraudster, Blessing Okoro, is made to face the full weight of the law and compelled to refund all monies collected using our client’s medical report that justice will not only be done but seen to be done,” Anyanwu said.

The lawyer told Saturday PUNCH that investigations suggested the influencer may have generated far more than she admitted.

“Our findings show she received over N300 million. She moved the funds from a GTBank account to another bank.

That account was opened solely for this purpose. Someone donated N20m, yet she claims she received only N10m,” he said, adding that Okoro had initially agreed to issue a public apology before reneging. “I told her the matter had gone too far, and she responded that controversy is what she thrives on,” he said.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Nigerian Bar Association Vice President, Monday Ubani, described the alleged conduct as criminal. “That is clear deception and obtaining by false pretence which is a crime. She should be prosecuted. If she never had any cancer, came to the public and said she had cancer, later retracted and does not want to return the money, she must be a very cheap thief,” he said.

The Delta State chapter of the NMA said it stands ready to testify if invited by investigators. State Chairman Dr Israel Adaigho said the body was focused on defending the integrity of its members and supporting ongoing investigations.

“The case has already been taken up by Deborah’s legal representatives, and we are ready to testify if invited,” he said.

The consultant pathologist who issued the original report, Dr A.O. Odigwe, aligned himself with the NMA’s position and said further action would depend on “unfolding developments.”

The Nigerian Cancer Society condemned the false claims and urged security agencies to investigate.

Efforts to reach Okoro on Friday were unsuccessful, as her phone line was unreachable and text and WhatsApp messages sent to her had received no response as of the time of filing this report.