A social media influencer and self-acclaimed relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, was on Tuesday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N69 million fraud.
Blessing CEO was arraigned before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N69,150,000.
At the commencement of the proceedings, the prosecution counsel, C.C.Okezie, urged the court to proceed with the arraignment, arguing that the defendant had been duly served with the charge.
However, the defence counsel, Nkama Nneka, informed the court that service of the charge had only recently been effected.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi held that the arraignment should proceed in accordance with the law, hence the charges were subsequently read to the defendant.
Count one reads: “That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA, on or about March 21, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, induced Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited to confer a benefit of N69,150,000 (Sixty-Nine Million, One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) on you under the representation that the property located at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, belonged to you and was leased to the company for a period of five years, a representation you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(2) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.”
Count two reads: “That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA, on or about March 21, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N69,150,000 (Sixty-Nine Million, One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), being the property of Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited, thereby committing an offence of stealing contrary to Section 280(2) and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
After listening to the charge preferred against her, she pleaded “not guilty” to the two counts.
Okezie asked for a trial date in view of the defendant’s ‘not guilty’ plea and further prayed the court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending her scheduled arraignment before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on June 10, 2026, over an alleged fraud case.
Consequently, Justice Oshodi remanded the defendant in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter till July 16, 2026 for the hearing of the bail application and the commencement of trial.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, admitted Blessing Nkiruka, who is also being prosecuted for an alleged N36million fraud to bail in the sum of ₦10 million with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Dipeolu ordered that one of the sureties must be a family member and required to provide proof of employment, Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identification Number (NIN), and a valid phone number.
The sureties must also submit a valid international passport, tax clearance certificates for the last two years, and six passport photographs.
The defendant is facing a different two-count charge filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N36million.