The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, has arraigned social media influencer and self-acclaimed relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over an alleged N36 million fraud.
Nkiruka was arraigned on Friday, on a two-count charge bordering on alleged obtaining by false pretence and stealing involving the sum of N36 million.
During proceedings, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that the defendant had refunded part of the money to the petitioner.
According to him, the defendant had refunded N24 million out of the N36 million allegedly involved in the matter.
“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, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, maintained that the prosecution was not aware of any 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,” Suleiman said.
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu held that discussions between the defence and the nominal complainant could continue while the matter 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 alleged that Nkiruka obtained N36 million from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, under the pretext of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, Off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos, a representation the prosecution said she knew to be false.
The second count accused her of fraudulently converting the same amount, said to belong to Okoye, to personal use.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following her plea, the prosecution applied for a trial date and requested that she be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.
However, defence counsel told the court that the defendant had only been served with the charges on Thursday, May 14, 2026, adding that efforts were ongoing to file her bail application.
He subsequently urged the court to remand her in EFCC custody pending the perfection of bail conditions.
Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.
The matter was adjourned until June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
