The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,
has arraigned social media influencer Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known
as Blessing CEO, before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in
Ikoyi, Lagos.
Blessing CEO was arraigned on Friday, May 15, 2026, on
two counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing
involving the sum of ?36 million.
At the start of proceedings, her lawyer, P.I. Nwafor,
told the court that the defendant had already refunded part of the money to the
petitioner.
According to him, Blessing CEO had paid back ?24
million out of the ?36 million and was seeking a short adjournment to resolve
the outstanding balance.
“We have an application to make. The defendant
approached the nominal complainant and refunded ?24 million out of the ?36
million,” Nwafor said.
“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 added.
However, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, opposed
the request, saying the EFCC was not aware of any private discussion between
the defendant and the nominal complainant.
Suleiman argued that the complainant in the case is
the Federal Government of Nigeria and urged the court to proceed with the
arraignment.
“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 discussions
between the defence and the nominal complainant could continue while the case
was pending, but stated that such discussions would not stop the court
proceedings.
The charge alleged that Blessing CEO obtained ?36
million from one Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, under
the false pretence of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B,
Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State.
The EFCC alleged that the representation was false and
that the defendant knew it to be false.
The second count accused her of fraudulently
converting the same ?36 million, said to be the property of Mrs. Okoye, to her
own use.
Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to the charges after
they were read to her.
Following her plea, the prosecution asked the court
for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional
facility pending trial.
Her lawyer, however, told the court that she was only
served with the charge on Thursday, May 14, 2026, and that steps were being
taken to file a bail application.
He asked the court to remand her in EFCC custody
instead, pending the perfection of her bail process.
Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered that
Blessing CEO be remanded in EFCC custody.
The case was adjourned until June 5, 2026, for the
commencement of trial.
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