May 15, (THEWILL) — Popular social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged N36 million property fraud involving a Lekki duplex in Lagos.
The defendant was arraigned on Friday before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence and alleged stealing.
According to the anti-graft agency, Blessing CEO allegedly obtained N36 million from one Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the pretext of securing a lease for a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State.
At the commencement of proceedings, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that efforts were ongoing to resolve the matter amicably between the defendant and the nominal complainant.
Nwafor disclosed that the defendant had already refunded N24 million out of the disputed N36 million and appealed for a short adjournment to allow the parties to conclude discussions on the outstanding balance.
“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,” the defence counsel said.
Responding, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, maintained that the EFCC was not involved in any settlement discussions between the defendant and the petitioner.
According to him, the complainant in the matter remained the Federal Government of Nigeria, stressing that the purpose of the day’s proceedings was for the defendant to take her plea.
“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 submitted.
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu held that parties were free to continue settlement discussions outside the courtroom, noting that such moves would not affect the criminal proceedings 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 read in court stated: “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 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.”
The EFCC said the alleged offence contravened Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The second count alleged that the defendant fraudulently converted the sum of N36 million belonging to the petitioner to her personal use, contrary to Sections 383 and 390 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
When the charges were read to her, Blessing CEO pleaded “not guilty.”
Following her plea, the prosecution applied for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.
However, defence counsel informed the court that the defendant had only been served with the charge on Thursday, May 14, 2026, adding that efforts were already underway to file a bail application.
The defence thereafter prayed the court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending the perfection of her bail conditions.
Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.
The matter was subsequently adjourned till June 5, 2026, for the commencement of the trial.
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