A social media influencer, Ms Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, also known as Blessing CEO, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The self-styled relationship therapist was brought before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 15, 2026, over an alleged N36 million fraud.
The EFCC, in a statement today, said Blessing CEO is facing a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N36.0 million.
“That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA, between July 14 and 17, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, did obtain the sum of N36,000,000.00 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,” one of the charges read.
“That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA, between July 14 and 17, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, fraudulently converted to your own use the sum of N36,000,000.00 property of Mrs Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” another charge read.
At the commencement of proceedings, the defence counsel, Mr P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that the defendant had refunded part of the money to the petitioner.
“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,” he said.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, Mr 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 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.”
After pleading not guilty, the prosecuting counsel applied for a trial date and prayed the court to remand her in a correctional facility pending trial.
But the defendant’s counsel informed the court that his client had only been served with the charge on Thursday, May 14, 2026, 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. This plea was granted, while the matter was adjourned till June 5, 2026, for the commencement of the trial.
