The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist Okoro Blessing Nkiruka over an alleged N36 million fraud.
Blessing CEO was arraigned before Justice D.I. Dipeolu at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly 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.
At the start of proceedings, defence counsel P.I. Nwafor told the court that the defendant had refunded N24 million to the petitioner and requested a short adjournment to settle the outstanding balance.
“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24 million out of the N36 million,” he said.
Nwafor added that the complainant had agreed to prevail on the EFCC to discontinue the matter if the balance was paid.
However, prosecution counsel S.I. Suleiman said the anti-graft agency was not part of any such arrangement.
“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,” he said.
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu held that discussions between the defence and the nominal complainant could continue during the pendency of the case and ordered that the defendant take her plea.
Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the plea, the prosecution asked for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.
The defence, however, informed the court that the charge had only been served on May 14 and that efforts were ongoing to file a bail application. Counsel then asked that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection of bail conditions.
Justice Dipeolu granted the application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.
The case was adjourned till June 5, 2026, for commencement of trial.
