Social media personality and self-acclaimed relationship coach, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, widely known as Blessing CEO, has been remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre following her arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of fraud involving about ₦13 million.
She was arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Yelim Bogoro at the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, where she pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence and retaining proceeds of alleged unlawful activities.
After spending 26 days in EFCC custody, the influencer was ordered to be remanded in prison pending the fulfilment of her bail conditions.
In a post shared on her Facebook page shortly after the court session, she confirmed her remand, writing: “I have now been remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Center pending when I perfect my bail.” She added that she remained “in high spirits” despite the development.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the case stemmed from petitions submitted by individuals and groups, including the Nigeria Cancer Society.
According to the EFCC, some members of the public made donations after social media posts in which she claimed to be battling Stage 4 breast cancer and sought financial assistance for treatment.
Investigators further claimed that documents presented in support of the illness were found to be falsified.
Blessing CEO, however, denied the allegations, insisting that parts of the charges were linked to tenancy-related disputes involving ₦36 million and ₦69 million, which she said were misrepresented. She also maintained that she did not engage in house sales through her office.
She noted that this was not her first encounter with the correctional system, recalling a previous detention in 2022 over allegations of cyberbullying and defamation.
The case was adjourned for further hearing as the court considers her bail application.
