The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of 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), before a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over an alleged N36 million fraud.
The EFCC said Ms Okoro was arraigned on Friday before a trial Judge, D.I. Dipeolu, on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
At the commencement of proceedings, according to the EFCC, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that the defendant 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.
“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, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, stated that the prosecution was not privy to any discussion 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,” he said.
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu held 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.”
According to the EFCC, the alleged offences occurred between July 14 and 17, 2024, in Lagos.
The first count accused Ms Okoro of obtaining N36 million from 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.
The commission stated that the representation was known to be false, an offence contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The second count alleged that she fraudulently converted the sum of N36 million property of Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye, to her own use, and 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.”
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to her.
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Following her plea, Suleiman applied for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional facility pending trial.
Counsel to the defendant, however, informed the court that the defendant had only been served with the charge on Thursday, May 14, 2026, and that efforts were ongoing to file her bail application.
He, therefore, prayed that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection of her bail conditions.
Justice Dipeolu granted the application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.
The matter was adjourned till 5 June 2026, for the commencement of the trial.
