By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned social media influencer, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja over alleged N69,150,000m fraud.
The defendant was charged on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing, allegedly committed in March 2025.
The prosecution alleged that Blessing CEO induced a firm, Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited, to pay the said sum on the representation that a property located in Lekki, Lagos, belonged to her and was available for lease for five years, a claim she reportedly knew to be false.
She was also accused of dishonestly converting the funds to her personal use.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie, urged the court to proceed with arraignment, insisting that the defendant had been duly served with the charge. However, defence counsel, Nkama Nneka, argued that service had only recently been effected.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Oshodi held that the arraignment should proceed, after which the charges were read to the defendant, who pleaded not guilty.
Following her plea, the prosecution applied for a trial date and requested that she be remanded in EFCC custody pending a separate proceeding before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi on another fraud allegation.
Justice Oshodi subsequently ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter till July 16, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.
In a related development, Justice Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, granted Blessing Nkiruka bail in another ongoing N36 million fraud case and was granted bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court ordered that one of the sureties must be a family member with verifiable employment records, including BVN, NIN, tax clearance certificates for two years, valid international passport, and other identification documents.
The case was adjourned for further proceedings.