By Felicia Odom 15.5.2026
Social media influencer Blessing Okoro a.k.a Blessing CEO was Friday arraigned at a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for allegedly obtaining N36m by false pretense in a botched property deal.
Blessing CEO was dragged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretense and stealing to the tune of N36,000,000.00 (Thirty-six million naira).
During the hearing it was revealed that Blessing CEO has refunded N24m out of the money she obtained from complainant and was ready to make a full return to avoid prosecution.
“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,” said P.I. Nwafor counsel to Blessing CEO
Responding, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, stated that the prosecution was not privy to any discussion between the defendant and the nominal complainant.
He said, “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.”
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu held that it wouldn’t affect the proceedings before the court even if the defence and the nominal complainant had discussions even during the pendency of the charge.
Justice Dipeolu stated, “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 pretense 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.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to her.
Justice Dipeolu ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned until June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Blessing CEO arriving in court to take her plea.