Lagos, 12 October 2026
A prosecution witness has told the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, that he paid N69,150,000 to social media influencer Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, for a five year lease of a property she allegedly did not own.
At the continuation of the trial on Monday, 12 October 2026, Dr Onuoha Okeigwe, the first prosecution witness, gave evidence before Justice R. A. Oshodi. Blessing Nkiruka was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on 9 June 2026 on a two count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
Count one of the charge states that on or about 21 March 2025 in Lagos, the defendant, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, induced Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited to confer a benefit of N69,150,000 on her. She is alleged to have represented that the property at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, belonged to her and was leased to the company for five years, a representation she knew to be false. The offence is contrary to Section 1(2) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act. She pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to her.
Dr Okeigwe told the court that he contacted the defendant after concerns arose, but she allegedly dismissed them. The following day, a man identified as Mr Tom reportedly arrived with police officers and arrested some of the clinic’s workers. The witness said he informed the defendant, who claimed she did not know Mr Tom. He paid N100,000 to secure the release of the workers. Blessing Nkiruka continued to maintain that she did not know Mr Tom and that she was the owner of the property.
The witness identified WhatsApp messages in which the defendant allegedly sent photographs of the building as evidence of her ownership. He also stated that he paid her additional charges, including agency, legal and caution fees. He maintained that the alleged misrepresentation was that she was not the actual owner of the property despite collecting N69,150,000 from him. He further told the court that the defendant collected money from him and another victim for the same property.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until 26 October 2026 for continuation of the trial.
By John James
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