Blessing CEO fraud case takes fresh turn as EFCC secures remand order over alleged N36m property scam in Lagos

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday said a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, remanded social media influencer Okoro Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, in its custody over an alleged N36 million fraud case.

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The commission disclosed that the defendant was arraigned by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

According to the EFCC, Okoro pleaded not guilty after the charges were read in court.

During the proceedings, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that the defendant had already refunded N24 million to the nominal complainant and requested a short adjournment to enable both parties settle the outstanding balance.

“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24m out of the N36m,” the defence counsel said.

“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.”

However, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, argued that the Federal Government remained the complainant in the matter and stated that the prosecution was not aware of any private arrangement between the defendant and the petitioner.

The court subsequently ruled that any negotiation between the defendant and the nominal complainant would not affect the criminal proceedings and directed that the defendant enter her plea.

According to the commission, one of the charges alleged that between July 14 and 17, 2024, the defendant obtained N36 million from Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the false pretence of securing a six-bedroom detached duplex in Lekki, Lagos.

The EFCC alleged that the representation was knowingly false and further accused the influencer of fraudulently converting the money for personal use.

Following the plea, the prosecution applied for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.

Defence counsel, however, urged the court to allow the defendant remain in EFCC custody on the grounds that she had only recently been served with the charges and was still perfecting her bail application.

Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered that the defendant remain in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission pending further proceedings.