EFCC arraigns Blessing CEO over alleged N36m fraud

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned social media influencer and self‑styled relationship therapist Okoro Blessing Nkiruka — also known as Blessing CEO — at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on charges alleging she defrauded a complainant of N36 million.

A statement obtained from the EFCC on Friday says the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, charged Nkiruka before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on a two‑count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N36,000,000.00 (Thirty‑six Million Naira).

One of the counts 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 states: “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.”

At the start of proceedings, defence counsel P.I. Nwafor told the court that Nkiruka had refunded part of the money to the petitioner.

“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24 million out of the N36 million,” he said, adding, “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.”

Prosecution counsel S.I. Suleiman responded that the prosecution was not privy to any arrangement between the defendant and the nominal complainant, noting that “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.”

Justice Dipeolu ruled that “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 defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following the plea, Suleiman applied for a trial date and asked that Nkiruka be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.

Defence counsel said the defendant had only been served with the charge on Thursday, May 14, 2026, and was preparing a bail application, so he asked that she be remanded in EFCC custody pending perfection of bail conditions.

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

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