The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned popular social media influencer, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, widely known as Blessing CEO, over an alleged N69.15 million fraud linked to a property transaction in Lagos.
The influencer was brought before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on Tuesday on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
According to the anti-graft agency, Blessing CEO deceived Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited into paying N69.15 million by claiming ownership of a property located at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, which she purportedly leased to the company for five years.
The EFCC alleged that the representation was false and accused the defendant of converting the money for personal use.
One of the charges stated that the defendant, on or about March 21, 2025, fraudulently induced the company to part with the sum under the false claim that the Lekki property belonged to her.
The prosecution further alleged that the act contravened provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, while the second count accused her of stealing under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie, informed the court that the defendant had been duly served with the charges and urged the court to proceed with the arraignment.
Defence counsel, Nkama Nneka, however, argued that service of the charges had only recently been effected on the defendant.
Justice Oshodi subsequently ruled that the arraignment should proceed in line with legal provisions, after which the charges were read to Blessing CEO in open court.
She pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Following the plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and also urged the court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending her scheduled appearance before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi on June 10, 2026, in another alleged fraud matter.
The judge thereafter ordered that she be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the case until July 16, 2026, for hearing of her bail application and commencement of trial.
In a related development, Justice Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, granted the influencer bail in a separate alleged N36 million fraud case.
The court fixed the bail sum at N10 million with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a family member.
The court also directed the sureties to provide proof of employment, Bank Verification Number, National Identification Number, valid phone numbers, international passports, tax clearance certificates for the last two years and six passport photographs.
Blessing CEO had earlier been arraigned by the EFCC on another two-count charge involving alleged obtaining by false pretence and stealing of N36 million.
