The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought social media personality Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, before a Lagos court over an alleged N69.15 million fraud.
Blessing CEO was arraigned on Tuesday before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on a two-count charge involving alleged obtaining by false pretence and stealing.
During the proceedings, EFCC counsel C.C. Okezie informed the court that the defendant had been properly served and urged the court to proceed with the arraignment. Defence counsel, Nkama Nneka, however, argued that the charge had only recently been served on her client.
Justice Oshodi ruled that the arraignment should go ahead in line with legal procedure, after which the charges were read to the defendant.
According to the anti-graft agency, Blessing CEO allegedly misrepresented herself as the owner of a property located at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, and leased it to Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited for five years, leading the company to part with N69.15 million.
The EFCC further accused her of unlawfully converting the sum for personal use.
The influencer pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Following her plea, the prosecution requested that she be remanded in EFCC custody pending trial, noting that she was also scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi on June 10, 2026, in connection with another fraud-related case.
Justice Oshodi granted the application and ordered that she remain in EFCC custody. The case was subsequently adjourned until July 16, 2026, for the hearing of her bail application and the commencement of trial.
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In a separate development on the same day, Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, granted Blessing CEO bail in another case involving an alleged N36 million fraud.
The court fixed her bail at N10 million with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a family member and provide proof of employment, BVN, NIN, a valid phone number, an international passport, tax clearance certificates covering the previous two years, and six passport photographs.
The EFCC had earlier charged the social media influencer in that case over allegations of obtaining money by false pretence and theft amounting to N36 million.