Femi Ashekun/
Social media influencer and relationship commentator, Blessing Okoro Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a fresh fraud case involving an alleged N69.15 million, separate from an earlier N36 million fraud matter already before another court.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC brought the influencer before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Tuesday, accusing her of obtaining money by false pretences and stealing.
According to the anti-graft agency, the new charges stem from allegations that Blessing CEO falsely represented herself as the owner of a property located at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos, and subsequently leased it to Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited for a five-year period.
The EFCC alleged that the representation induced the company to part with N69.15 million, which prosecutors claim she later converted to her personal use.
At the start of proceedings, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie, urged the court to proceed with the arraignment, stating that the defendant had been properly served with the charges.
Defence counsel, Nkama Nneka, however, informed the court that service had only recently been effected.
Justice Oshodi ruled that the arraignment should proceed in accordance with the law and directed that the charges be read to the defendant.
Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Following her plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending further proceedings.
Justice Oshodi subsequently remanded her in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter until July 16 2026 for the hearing of her bail application and the commencement of trial.
The fresh arraignment comes amid an ongoing and separate prosecution involving an alleged N36 million fraud.
In that case, Justice Alexander Owoeye Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, granted Blessing CEO bail on Tuesday in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court directed that one of the sureties must be a family member and must provide proof of employment, a Bank Verification Number, National Identification Number and a valid telephone number.
The sureties were also ordered to submit valid international passports, tax clearance certificates covering the previous two years and six passport photographs.
The influencer had earlier been arraigned by the EFCC on separate charges alleging that she obtained N36 million by false pretence and unlawfully converted the money for personal use.
With the latest proceedings, Blessing CEO now faces prosecution in two different courts over two separate alleged fraud cases involving a combined sum of more than N105 million.
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