Alleged N36Million Fraud: EFCC Arraigns Relationship Therapist, Blessing CEO, In Lagos Court

Ikeja, Lagos State– The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned controversial social media influencer and self-acclaimed relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over an alleged N36million fraud.

Blessing CEO was arraigned on Friday before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N36,000,000.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant allegedly obtained the money from one Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the guise of securing a property lease in Lagos.

At the commencement of proceedings, counsel to the defendant, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that his client had already refunded part of the money to the petitioner and requested a short adjournment to allow both parties resolve the matter amicably.

“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24 million out of the N36 million,” Nwafor told the court.

“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 added.

However, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, opposed the request, insisting that the Federal Government of Nigeria, and not the petitioner, was the complainant in the matter.

Responding to the defence counsel’s submission, Suleiman said the EFCC was not aware of any private arrangement 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,” the prosecutor stated.

In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu held that discussions between the defendant and the nominal complainant could continue while the case remained before the court.

“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,” the judge ruled.

One of the charges against Blessing CEO reads: “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 N36,000,000.00 (Thirty-six Million Naira) 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.”

The second count reads: “That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA, between July 14 and 17, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently converted to your own use the sum of N36,000,000.00 (Thirty-six Million Naira), 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.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” after the charges were read to her in court.

Following her plea, the prosecution applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the determination of the case.

But counsel to the defendant informed the court that the charge was only served on Blessing CEO on Thursday, May 14, 2026, adding that efforts were already underway to file her bail application.

He subsequently urged the court to allow the defendant remain in EFCC custody pending the perfection of her bail conditions.

Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered that Blessing CEO be remanded in EFCC custody.

The court thereafter adjourned the matter until June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.