The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned a social media influencer, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka (known as Blessing CEO), for an alleged N69.15 million fraud.
The commission, in a statement, said Ms Nkiruka was arraigned before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
Ms Nkiruka was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N69,150,000.
At the commencement of the proceedings, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie, urged the court to proceed with the arraignment, arguing that the defendant had been duly served with the charge.
However, defence counsel, Nkama Nneka, informed the court that service of the charge had only recently been effected.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi held that the arraignment should proceed in accordance with the law; hence, the charges were subsequently read to the defendant.
According to Count One, on or about March 21, 2025, in Lagos, Ms Nkiruka allegedly induced Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited to pay her N69.15 million under false representations. The EFCC alleged that she claimed that a property at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, belonged to her and leased it to the company for five years, a claim the commission says she knew was false.
Count two accused her of dishonestly converting the same N69.15 million, property of Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited, to her own use. The offences are contrary to Section 1(2) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, and Section 280(2) and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to her.
In view of this, according to the EFCC, Okezie asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending her scheduled arraignment before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on 10 June 2026, for another alleged fraud case.
READ ALSO: EFCC arraigns Blessing CEO over alleged N36 million fraud
Consequently, Justice Oshodi remanded the defendant in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter till 16 July 2026 for the hearing of the bail application and the commencement of trial.
In a related development, Justice Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, granted Blessing Nkiruka, who is being prosecuted for an alleged N36m fraud, bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.
One of the sureties must be a family member and is required to provide proof of employment, Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identification Number (NIN), and a valid phone number.
The sureties must also submit a valid international passport, tax clearance certificates for the last two years, and six passport photographs
The defendant was earlier arraigned on a two-count charge by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N36 million.
