The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday said a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, had remanded social media influencer, Okoro Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, in its custody over an alleged N36m fraud.
In a statement obtained by Saturday PUNCH, the commission said 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, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to her.
The commission stated that during the proceedings, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that the defendant had refunded N24m to the nominal complainant and sought a short adjournment to allow both parties resolve the outstanding balance.
“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24m out of the N36m.
“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 the statement.
However, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, told the court that the Federal Government was the complainant in the matter and that the prosecution was not aware of any arrangement between the defendant and the petitioner.
The statement noted that the court held that any discussion between the defendant and the nominal complainant would not affect the proceedings and directed that the defendant takes her plea.
The EFCC in the statement says “One of the counts alleged that the defendant, between July 14 and 17, 2024, obtained N36 million from one Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the false pretence of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex in Lekki, Lagos, which representation she allegedly knew to be false.
“Another count, according to the commission, accused her of fraudulently converting the said sum to personal use,”.
Following her plea, the prosecution applied for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.
Defence counsel, however, urged the court to remand her in EFCC custody, noting that she had just been served with the charges and was still perfecting her bail application.
Justice Dipeolu granted the request and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.
The case was adjourned till June 5, 2026, for commencement of trial, the statement added.
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