A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday ordered the remand of social media influencer and self-acclaimed relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N36 million fraud.
The defendant was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and fraudulent conversion of funds.
According to the anti-graft agency, Blessing CEO allegedly obtained N36 million from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, under the pretence of arranging the lease of a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State.
The commission alleged that the representation was false and that the defendant knew it to be untrue at the time the money was collected.
The EFCC also accused her of converting the said amount to personal use, contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Code Act.
When the charges were read before the court, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
At the commencement of proceedings, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that his client had already refunded N24 million to the complainant and was making efforts to settle the remaining balance.
He urged the court to grant a short adjournment to allow parties conclude discussions aimed at resolving the dispute.
“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,” the lawyer said.
However, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, insisted that the EFCC was not part of any private arrangement between the defendant and the complainant.
“The complainant here is the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we are here for the arraignment. We urge that the defendant take her plea,” Suleiman told the court.
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu held that settlement discussions between the parties would not stop the court from proceeding with the criminal case.
He subsequently directed that the defendant take her plea.
Following the arraignment, the prosecution applied for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.
The defence, however, informed the court that the defendant had only been served with the charge on Thursday, May 14, 2026, and that efforts were ongoing to file her bail application.
Counsel therefore prayed that she be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of the bail application.
Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered that the defendant remain in EFCC custody.
The case was adjourned till June 5, 2026, for commencement of trial proceedings.
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