EFCC Arraigns Blessing CEO Over Fresh Alleged ₦69.1 Million Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned popular social media influencer, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before a Lagos Special Offences Court over an alleged ₦69.15 million fraud.

The defendant was arraigned on Tuesday before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

According to the anti-graft agency, the alleged offences involve ₦69,150,000 said to belong to Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited.

At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie, urged the court to proceed with the arraignment, arguing that the defendant had been duly served with the charge.

However, defence counsel, Nkama Nneka, informed the court that the service of the charge had only recently been effected.

In his ruling, Justice Oshodi held that the arraignment should proceed in accordance with the law, after which the charges were read to the defendant.

Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the first count, the EFCC alleged that on or about March 21, 2025, the defendant fraudulently induced Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited to part with ₦69.15m by falsely representing that a property located at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos, belonged to her and had been leased to the company for a period of five years.

The commission alleged that the representation was false and was made with the intention to defraud.

Part of the charge read, “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 N69,150,000 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.”

The second count accused the defendant of dishonestly converting the sum of ₦69.15m, said to be the property of the company, to her personal use.

Following her not-guilty plea, the prosecution asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending her scheduled arraignment before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi on June 10, 2026, in another alleged fraud case.

Justice Oshodi subsequently ordered that Blessing CEO be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter until July 16, 2026, for the hearing of her bail application and the commencement of trial.

Naija News reports that in a related development, Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday granted the social media influencer bail in the sum of ₦10m in connection with a separate alleged ₦36m fraud case.

The court ordered that she provide two sureties in like sum.

One of the sureties must be a family member and is required to provide proof of employment, Bank Verification Number, National Identification Number and a valid telephone number.

The sureties are also expected to submit valid international passports, tax clearance certificates for the last two years and six passport photographs.

Blessing CEO was earlier arraigned by the EFCC on allegations of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of ₦36m.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the case was adjourned for further proceedings.