LAGOS: Social media personality and relationship coach, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has been granted ₦10 million bail in one alleged fraud case but remanded in custody over a fresh ₦69.15 million fraud charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency arraigned the influencer before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
According to the EFCC, Blessing CEO allegedly obtained ₦69.15 million from Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited after falsely claiming ownership of a property located at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos, which she allegedly leased to the company for five years.
The commission further accused her of converting the money to personal use.
One of the charges reads:
That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA, on or about March 21, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, induced Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited to confer a benefit of ₦69,150,000 on you under the representation that the property located at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, belonged to you and was leased to the company for a period of five years, a representation you knew to be false.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie, urged the court to proceed with the arraignment, insisting that the defendant had been duly served with the charges.
However, defence counsel, Nkama Nneka, informed the court that service had only recently been effected.
Justice Oshodi ruled that the arraignment should proceed in line with the law, after which the charges were read to the defendant.
Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following her plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending her scheduled arraignment before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi on June 10, 2026, in another fraud case.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until July 16, 2026, for the hearing of her bail application and commencement of trial.
In a related development, Justice Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, granted Blessing CEO bail in the sum of ₦10 million in a separate case involving an alleged ₦36 million fraud.
The court ordered her to provide two sureties in like sum, with one of the sureties required to be a family member.
The sureties are also expected to provide proof of employment, Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identification Number (NIN), valid phone numbers, international passports, tax clearance certificates for the last two years and six passport photographs.
Blessing CEO had earlier been arraigned by the EFCC on another two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing involving ₦36 million.
