Alleged N36m Fraud: EFCC Arraigns Blessing CEO in Lagos
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, on Friday, May 15, 2026, arraigned a social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, (also known as Blessing CEO), before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over an alleged N36 million fraud.
Nkiruka was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N36,000,000.00 (Thirty-six Million Naira).
At the commencement of proceedings, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that the defendant had refunded part of the money to the petitioner.
“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24 million out of the N36 million.
“We are asking for a short adjournment to resolve the outstanding balance. The nominal complainant agreed that if the balance is paid, they can prevail on the EFCC to drop the case,” he said.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, stated that the prosecution was not privy to any discussion between the defendant and the nominal complainant.
“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,” he said.
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu held that “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.”
One of the counts reads: “That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA, between July 14 and 17, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did obtain the sum of N36,000,000.00 (Thirty-six Million Naira) from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the false pretence of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex situated at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, Off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State, which representation you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
Another count reads: “That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA, between July 14 and 17, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently converted to your own use the sum of N36,000,000.00 (Thirty-six Million Naira), property of Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to her.
Following her plea, Suleiman applied for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional facility pending trial.
Counsel to the defendant, however, informed the court that the defendant had only been served with the charge on Thursday, May 14, 2026, and that efforts were ongoing to file her bail application.
He, therefore, prayed that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection of her bail conditions.
Justice Dipeolu granted the application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.
The matter was adjourned till June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial
@YulEdochie The way you have made a fool of yourself in the past 4 years and counting. Yul ,you are in severe pain, since May sent you packing. I understand you are hustling for x money to feed your battalion from your captive but it won't still solve your problems. Keep fooling yourself
I Stand with Chukwueze.
The day Nigerian youths are ready to save Nigeria, Nigeria will change.
In the last 48 hours, Tinubu wasted Billions of naira. He paid this money to a US lobbying firm to praise the APC Government, to use words to correct the bad image the APC created of Nigeria, instead of using policies and programs.
Within the same 48 hours, Samuel Chukwueze missed a penalty kick that even the world's best players have missed countless times. Still, a greater number of Nigerian youths have ignored the billions Tinubu has exported outside the country for praise singing to gaslight Samuel.
Samuel Chukwueze missed a penalty and instantly felt remorse in tears, but your president is presiding over 8 million youths unemployed, and his remorse is to pay a US propaganda firm to cover it, but you choose to force Samuel into depression.
Suddenly, chewing gum has become a crime because Samuel missed a penalty, but you watch your Governors, senators, and president loot your wealth dry and you find a way to defend them based on clan, party affiliation and religion.
Samuel has to beg for his allowance while serving Nigeria in Morocco but your Governors and president are collecting billions as security votes for the insecurity they created.
That is how we choose priority and that is why we are where we are.
Any APC foolish youths who are praising Tinubu but criticising Chukwueze will have a journey from purgatory to hellfire.
Godfrey Chikwere Odoh
@RealChiefPriest@grok Money na water. I love the fact that you are big on the family. The way you value and cherish them gives me joy. Much love, bro @grok you are doing a great job, excellence in all you do. One love ❤️
Adams Oshiomhole caused Serious problems at MM1 this Morning. He came late for his Flight. So the Plane took Off. Him and His Security Team then Blocked the Departure point, Insisting that Nobody else should Fly out till they sort Him Out. I never see this kain tin B4. 😡
@TitanTrust_Help pls start having communication wit ur customers, I provided an email when I opened an account wit
u. I'm having some issues dt I can't log into my app, I can't perform any transaction now.I'm told 2 provide d code sent to me. Can d code be sent to my email.
Just read the disturbing news on the great #ActiveCitizen@DeleFarotimi .
Has the @PoliceNG made a statement yet on what they know or have leant about his whereabouts?
Dele speaks the mind of majority of the Nigerian citizens every time he speaks “Truth to Power”.
His right to continue to keep government accountable in all its dealings must be protected.
I advise the IGP to ask his officers to provide an update on Mr Farotimi and secure his release urgently. ✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾
has become a ready mode of expression. This recourse must not only be condemned but also combatted by the authorities. Every act of terror and violence must be condemned. We must not allow our society to lose the sense of sacredness of life.
The government and all security agencies, who are at the forefront of combating insecurity, need to make extra efforts to arrest this growing menace of insecurity in our society.
Today (21/12/2023) is the Service of Songs in honour of our late Mum, Mrs Grace Ngọzi Nwosu.
Time: 5pm
At St Nicholas Anglican Church, Woji, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Please attend. God bless you richly.
He defeated a sitting president in Aso Rock polling unit, he won all the polling units in all the military formations in Nigeria. He won the FCT as well. This is the man Nigerians voted for. The world knows! Africa knows! The Establishment are aware of this as well!
The problem with taking flight from the day of judgement is that there are no airlines operating away from the judgement of history and the judgment of God. Those have wasted the potential of so many young and so many vulnerabilities because of greed will meet judgment