Alleged ₦36m Fraud: Blessing CEO Arraigned, Remanded in EFCC Custody

​LAGOS — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, May 15, 2026, arraigned controversial social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over an alleged ₦36 million fraud.

​Appearing before Justice D.I. Dipeolu, the defendant pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence and stealing. Following her plea, the court ordered that she be remanded in the custody of the anti-graft agency pending the commencement of her trial.

​The Duplex Deal Gone Sour

​According to the charge sheet, the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC alleged that Blessing CEO committed the offence between July 14 and 17, 2024. The prosecution stated that she fraudulently obtained ₦36,000,000 from a complainant, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye, under the false pretence of leasing out a six-bedroom detached duplex.

​The property in question is located at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, Off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State. The anti-graft agency maintained that the defendant knew the representation was false, an act that contravenes Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, as well as Sections 383 and 390 of the Criminal Code Act.

​Refund and Out-of-Court Settlement Efforts

​At the start of the proceedings, the defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, attempted to stall the arraignment by informing the court that his client had already taken steps to resolve the issue amicably.

​”We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded ₦24 million out of the ₦36 million,” Nwafor told the court.

​He further pleaded for a short adjournment to clear the outstanding ₦12 million balance, claiming that the complainant had agreed to prevail upon the EFCC to drop the charges once full restitution was made.

​However, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, swiftly opposed the application. Suleiman argued that the EFCC was entirely unaware of any private, backroom settlements.

​”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,” the prosecutor countered.

​Court Rules: Criminal Trial Must Proceed

​Delivering his ruling on the matter, Justice Dipeolu clarified that private negotiations between a defendant and an aggrieved party cannot halt criminal proceedings initiated by the state.

​”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,” the judge ruled.

​With the application denied, the charges were read aloud, and Blessing CEO entered a “not guilty” plea.

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​Remanded in Custody

​Following the plea, the prosecution asked the court for a formal trial date and requested that the influencer be sent to a correctional facility.

​Objecting to the prison remand, Nwafor informed the court that the defence had only been served with the official charges on Thursday, May 14, 2026, and requested that she be kept in EFCC custody instead, while they finalise her bail application.

​Justice Dipeolu granted the defence’s request and ordered that Blessing CEO remain in EFCC custody. The case has been adjourned until June 5, 2026, for the formal commencement of trial.