13/10/2026
N69M FRAUD TRIAL:
A businessman, Dr Onuoha Okeigwe, has told a Lagos court how social media influencer Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, allegedly collected N69.15 million from him for a five-year lease of a Lekki property she allegedly did not own.
Testifying as the first prosecution witness, Okeigwe said Blessing CEO presented a property at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, as hers and allegedly sent him photographs of the building through WhatsApp to support her claim of ownership.
He said the transaction became problematic when a man identified as Mr Tom reportedly arrived at the property with police officers and arrested some of his workers.
βI informed the defendant, and she claimed she did not know Mr Tom. I paid N100,000 to secure the release of my workers. Blessing still maintained that she did not know Mr Tom and that she was the owner of the property,β Okeigwe told the court.
The witness further alleged that Blessing CEO collected money from another person for the same property. He also said he paid additional agency, legal and caution fees in connection with the transaction.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a two-count charge against the influencer, accusing her of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing N69.15 million. The commission alleged that on or about March 21, 2025, she induced Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited to pay the money by falsely claiming ownership of the property and offering it for a five-year lease.
Blessing CEO was arraigned on June 9, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Justice R. A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, adjourned the case until October 26, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
Tutu