EFCC sues social media influencer over alleged N36m scam

Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, a social media influencer and self-acclaimed relationship therapist, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has been arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged N36 million fraud.

The anti-graft agency brought the defendant before D.I. Dipeolu, Justice of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, accusing her of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

According to the EFCC, Blessing CEO was arraigned on a two counts bordering on the alleged fraudulent conversion of N36 million belonging to one Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye.

During the commencement of proceedings, counsel to the defendant, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that efforts were already underway to settle the matter amicably, disclosing that his client had refunded N24 million to the petitioner.

“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24 million out of the N36 million,” the defence counsel told the court.

He further appealed for a short adjournment to allow discussions over the outstanding balance, adding that the nominal complainant had indicated willingness to persuade the EFCC to discontinue the case once full payment was made.

However, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, opposed the request, insisting that the Federal Government of Nigeria remained the complainant in the matter and that the arraignment should proceed irrespective of any private settlement talks.

“The complainant here is the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we are here for the arraignment. We urge that the defendant take her plea, as that is the business of the day,” Suleiman argued.

In his ruling, Dipeolu held that discussions between the defence and the nominal complainant could continue alongside the court proceedings and would not affect the criminal trial.

“The defence and the nominal complainant can have discussions even during the pendency of the charge. It does not affect the proceedings before the court. The defendant will take her plea,” the judge ruled.

One of the charges alleged that between July 14 and 17, 2024, in Lagos, the defendant obtained N36 million from Okoye under the pretext of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State.

The EFCC alleged that the representation was false and constituted an offence under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

The second charge accused the defendant of fraudulently converting the same sum to personal use, an offence said to contravene Sections 383 and 390 of the Criminal Code Act.

When the charges were read before the court, Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty.

Following her plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the determination of the case.

The defence counsel, however, told the court that the charge was only served on the defendant on Thursday, May 14, 2026, adding that steps were being taken to file her bail application.

He subsequently appealed that she be remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection of her bail conditions.

Dipeolu granted the application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.

The matter was adjourned till June 5, 2026, for commencement of trial.