Social media influencer Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, is facing trial over an alleged N69.15 million fraud involving the lease of a property in Lekki, Lagos.
At the continuation of the trial on Monday, October 12, 2026, prosecution witness Dr Onuoha Okeigwe told Justice R. A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja that he paid N69,150,000 for a five-year lease of a property allegedly presented to him as belonging to the influencer.
According to a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, Blessing CEO was arraigned by the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 on June 9, 2026, on a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
The first count alleged that on or about March 21, 2025, in Lagos, the defendant fraudulently induced Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited to pay N69,150,000 by claiming that the property at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, belonged to her and had been leased to the company for five years.
The alleged offence is said to contravene Section 1(2) and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.
Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to her.
During his testimony, Okeigwe told the court that he contacted the defendant after encountering problems relating to the property, but she allegedly dismissed his concerns. He said that the following day, a man identified as Mr Tom arrived with police officers and had some of the clinic’s workers arrested.
The witness stated that he informed Blessing CEO about the incident, but she reportedly denied knowing the man. He added that he paid N100,000 to secure the release of his workers, while the defendant continued to maintain that she did not know Mr Tom and that she owned the property.
Okeigwe also identified WhatsApp messages in which the defendant allegedly sent him photographs of the building as evidence of her claimed ownership.
He further testified that he paid additional charges, including agency fees, legal fees and a caution fee.
However, the witness maintained that the alleged fraud centred on the defendant’s purported claim of ownership despite collecting N69,150,000 for the lease. He also alleged that she collected money from him and another individual in connection with the same property.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until October 26, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
