Olamilekan Abayomi
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi on May 15, 2026. She appeared on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing, involving the sum of ₦36 million.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offence took place between July 14 and 17, 2024, when Blessing CEO reportedly collected ₦36 million from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye for the lease of a six-bedroom duplex located at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki. The commission alleges that the lease agreement was false and that the money was obtained under that pretence, amounting to a criminal breach of trust.
When the matter came up, defence counsel P.I. Nwafor informed the court that his client had already refunded ₦24 million to the nominal complainant. He requested a short adjournment to enable the settlement of the outstanding ₦12 million, stating that the complainant had agreed that once the full amount was paid, they would prevail on the EFCC to withdraw the charge.
The prosecution, led by S.I. Suleiman, pushed back on that arrangement. He told the court that the prosecution was not privy to any private discussions between the defendant and the complainant, stressing that the complainant in the eyes of the law was the Federal Government of Nigeria. He insisted that the business of the day was for the defendant to take her plea and for the trial to proceed accordingly.
Justice Dipeolu ruled that while the defence and the nominal complainant were free to hold discussions even while the charge was pending, such talks would not halt the proceedings before the court. He held that the defendant would proceed to take her plea, making clear that settlement efforts could run alongside but not override the criminal process.
Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to both counts. Following her plea, the court remanded her in custody pending further proceedings and the determination of bail. The judge’s stance reflects the standard approach in EFCC cases, where private restitution does not automatically terminate a criminal charge once the state has assumed prosecution.
The arraignment adds to a busy period for the commission, which also secured the conviction of former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman in a separate ₦33.8 billion fraud case earlier in the week. Such high-profile cases often draw public attention to the EFCC’s focus on financial crimes involving public funds and high-value private transactions.
Blessing CEO has built a large following online as a relationship therapist and influencer, often weighing in on dating and marriage issues. The case now shifts to trial, where the prosecution will be required to prove that the lease was fraudulent and that the funds were obtained dishonestly, while the defence is likely to emphasize the partial refund and ongoing settlement efforts as mitigating factors.
