Popular social media influencer and relationship expert, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, widely known as Blessing CEO, has been remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after being arraigned before a Lagos Special Offences Court over an alleged N69.15 million fraud.
The development came on the same day that a Federal High Court in Lagos granted her bail in a separate alleged N36 million fraud case, adding a new twist to the legal battles facing the social media personality.
The EFCC disclosed on Tuesday that Blessing CEO was arraigned before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on a fresh two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
According to the anti-graft agency, the influencer allegedly obtained N69.15 million from Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited through false claims relating to a property located in the Lekki area of Lagos.
The commission alleged that Blessing CEO represented herself as the owner of a property located at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, and subsequently leased it to the company for a period of five years.
The EFCC claimed that the representation was false and that she knowingly misled the company into paying the money.
Prosecutors further alleged that after obtaining the funds, she converted the money to her personal use.
One of the charges presented before the court stated that on or about March 21, 2025, she induced Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited to confer a financial benefit of N69.15 million on her by falsely claiming ownership of the property.
The prosecution said the alleged action contravened provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.
The second charge accused her of dishonestly converting the N69.15 million, said to belong to the company, for personal use, an offence punishable under the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
At the commencement of proceedings, EFCC prosecutor C.C. Okezie informed the court that the defendant had been properly served with the charges and urged the court to proceed with the arraignment.
However, defence counsel, Nkama Nneka, argued that the service of the charge was only recently effected.
After considering submissions from both parties, Justice Oshodi ruled that the arraignment should proceed in line with the law.
The charges were subsequently read to the defendant, who pleaded not guilty to all allegations.
Following the plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody.
The prosecutor informed the court that Blessing CEO was expected to appear before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi on June 10, 2026, in connection with another alleged fraud case.
Justice Oshodi thereafter ordered that she be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter until July 16, 2026, for the hearing of her bail application and the commencement of trial.
The latest charges add to the legal challenges currently confronting the social media influencer, who has built a large following through her relationship advice, social commentary and online content.
Over the years, Blessing CEO has remained one of the most talked-about personalities on Nigerian social media, frequently making headlines for controversial statements and public disputes involving celebrities and public figures.
However, her growing popularity has now been overshadowed by multiple fraud allegations brought against her by the EFCC.
In a related development, Justice Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday granted the influencer bail in another case involving alleged fraud amounting to N36 million.
The court fixed her bail at N10 million and ordered that she provide two sureties in the same amount.
According to the conditions set by the court, one of the sureties must be a member of her family.
The court also directed the sureties to provide proof of employment and submit several documents, including their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), National Identification Numbers (NIN), valid telephone numbers, international passports, tax clearance certificates covering the last two years and six passport photographs.
The N36 million case is also based on allegations of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
Although details of the separate case were not extensively discussed during Tuesday’s proceedings, court records indicate that it involves another two-count charge filed by the EFCC.
As is the case in criminal proceedings, the allegations remain claims by the prosecution until proven in court.
Under Nigerian law, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty by a competent court of law.
The EFCC, established in 2003, is Nigeria’s leading anti-corruption agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes.
Over the years, the commission has prosecuted politicians, public officials, business executives and celebrities accused of financial crimes.
The agency has increasingly focused attention on social media personalities and influencers whose activities involve significant financial transactions and business dealings.
For now, the influencer remains in EFCC custody in relation to the fresh N69.15 million case, while awaiting further court proceedings.
The matter is expected to return before the Special Offences Court on July 16, when the court will hear her bail application and begin substantive proceedings in the case.