Popular social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, also known as Blessing CEO, was on Friday arraigned before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred the charges against her, alleging that between July 14 and 17, 2024, she collected N36 million from one 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.
At the commencement of proceedings, her defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that the defendant had already refunded N24 million of the N36 million to the petitioner, and sought a short adjournment to resolve the outstanding balance, adding that the complainant had agreed that if the balance was paid, they could prevail on the EFCC to drop the case.
The prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, however, was having none of it, insisting that the complainant in the matter was the Federal Government of Nigeria and that the business of the day was the arraignment of the defendant.
Justice Dipeolu agreed, ruling that discussions between the defence and the nominal complainant could continue even during the pendency of the charge, and ordered the defendant to take her plea.
Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to both counts.
The prosecution thereafter applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial. Defence counsel, however, informed the court that his client had only been served with the charge on Thursday, May 14, 2026, and that her bail application was yet to be filed. He prayed that she be remanded in EFCC custody in the interim.
Justice Dipeolu granted the application and ordered that Blessing CEO be remanded in EFCC custody. The matter was adjourned to June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
