The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has brought social media influencer and self-described relationship counselor, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, to court in Lagos over a suspected fraud amounting to ₦36 million.

Blessing CEO appeared before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on Friday, facing two charges of obtaining money by false pretenses and theft totaling ₦36 million.

The EFCC alleges that the defendant tricked Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye into handing over the money, promising to deliver a six-bedroom duplex in Lekki, Lagos — a claim prosecutors say was fabricated.

In court, defense attorney P.I. Nwafor stated that the defendant had already refunded ₦24 million to the complainant and asked for a brief adjournment to settle the remaining amount.

“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded ₦24 million out of the ₦36 million.

“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,” the lawyer said.

However, prosecution counsel S.I. Suleiman opposed the request, insisting that the commission was not involved in any private settlement arrangement.

“The complainant here is the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we are here for the arraignment. We urge that the defendant take her plea, as that is the business of the day,” he argued.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Dipeolu held that settlement talks could continue independently but would not stop the arraignment process.

“The defence and the nominal complainant can have discussions even during the pendency of the charge. It does not affect the proceedings before the court. The defendant will take her plea,” the judge ruled.

One of the charges alleges that between July 14 and 17, 2024, Blessing CEO deceitfully defrauded the complainant of ₦36 million through a false property lease in Lekki.

An additional count accused her of illegally diverting the funds for personal use, in violation of the Criminal Code Act.
She entered a plea of not guilty.

After her plea, the prosecution requested that her trial be initiated and that she be held in a correctional facility, while the defense argued for her continued detention in EFCC custody until bail could be arranged.

Justice Dipeolu ordered her remand at EFCC custody and scheduled the case for June 5, 2026, to begin the trial.