The Lagos State Special Offences Court has granted social media influencer Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, bail in the sum of N20 million in her ongoing trial over an alleged N69 million fraud.

The court ordered that she provide two responsible sureties in the same amount, with each submitting a three-year bank statement or proof of a fixed deposit worth at least N20 million. The judge also directed that both Blessing CEO and her sureties be verified through the Lagos State Judiciary’s Bail Information Management System.

Her defence informed the court that her international passport had been lost, presenting an affidavit of loss and a public notice. The court subsequently ordered the Nigerian Immigration Service to place her on a travel watchlist until the case is concluded.

The matter was adjourned to October 12, 2026, for continuation of trial. Blessing CEO is also facing a separate N36 million alleged fraud and theft case before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi.

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A 39-year-old man arrested for allegedly posing as a medical doctor in Cross River State has confessed to treating at least 15 patients over the years.

The suspect, Udeme Emmanuel Ekpeme, was arrested by operatives of the Uwanse Police Division in Calabar South LGA following a complaint by Mrs Edemawan Samuel, who accused him of impersonation, obtaining money by false pretence and operating an illegal mobile.

Police alleged that Ekpeme fraudulently obtained N500,000 from the woman after promising to secure employment for her children at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

In his confession, the suspect said he dropped out of medical school but bought medical equipment with the hope of raising enough money to return and complete his studies.

“If I can raise money to return to medical school, I will. So I bought medical equipment for testing so that whenever patients come, I can use them to diagnose them. Often, when one patient sees that my treatment is effective, the person recommends another,” he said.

He claimed that between 2014 and 2026, he treated at least 15 patients despite not being a licensed medical practitioner.

The suspect also admitted collecting N500,000 from the complainant over the promised UCTH jobs but said he diverted the money to settle a debt of N700,000.

“I was already owing somebody N700,000 and they had been disturbing me to pay. They even seized my Android phone, so I used the money to offset the debt,” he confessed.

The complainant said she became suspicious when the suspect demanded an additional N40,000, claiming it was needed to facilitate banking transactions for the supposed employment.

“When he demanded the N40,000, I had a strong feeling he just wanted to collect the money and chop. I contacted my brother, who said he was a scammer, and we reported the matter to the police,” she said.

She further alleged that the suspect had administered several injections on her and her two children while presenting himself as a qualified doctor.

Confirming the arrest, the Cross River State Police Command said preliminary investigations showed the suspect falsely presented himself as a medical doctor and unlawfully obtained N500,000 from the complainant under the guise of securing employment for her children at UCTH.

Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said exhibits linked to the alleged offences had been recovered and that the suspect remained in custody.

Akata also cautioned members of the public against patronising unlicensed medical practitioners.

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The Lagos State Police Command has detained six Liberians over alleged human trafficking, abduction, and an international visa scam.

The suspects, comprising one woman and five men aged between 21 and 40, were apprehended at Gberigbe in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

They allegedly specialise in defrauding unsuspecting victims of millions of naira while promising to help them secure a visa for Canada and other countries.

The syndicate allegedly lured victims from Liberia to Nigeria with promises of securing visas, work permits and residency documents for Canada and the UK, collecting huge sums of money for travel arrangements that never materialised, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports.

However, when the victims arrived Nigeria, their passports and other travel documents are seized.

The first few days after their arrival, the victims are usually accommodated in a hotel. However, after about three days, they get moved to a rented apartment in Ikorodu, where they are detained and pressured to recruit more people into the scheme before they can regain their freedom.

One of the victims, a woman, who realised she had been deceived, reported the case to a friend she met on her way to Nigeria.

The friend, a man, alerted the police, leading to the rescue of the victim and the arrest of the suspects.

Following the report, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Fatai Tijani, directed that the case be transferred from the Imota Police Division to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for comprehensive investigation.

“The investigation is being handled by the Delta Force Anti-Robbery Unit of the SCID under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the department, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin, ” a police source told NAN.

The source added that efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate, while the six suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

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