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A prosecution witness has accused social media influencer Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, of allegedly collecting N69.15 million for a five-year lease of a Lekki property she did not own.
The allegation was presented at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, where Blessing CEO is standing trial over charges of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed the development in a statement shared on its social media account on Monday, October 12, detailing proceedings before Justice R.A. Oshodi.
The witness, Dr Onuoha Okeigwe, identified as the first prosecution witness, told the court that the money was paid for a property at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos, which he said Blessing CEO had represented as her own.
The influencer was arraigned by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 on June 9, 2026, on a two-count charge involving N69,150,000. She pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
According to the charge, Blessing CEO allegedly induced Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited to pay the money on or about March 21, 2025, by claiming that the property belonged to her and was available for a five-year lease.
The prosecution alleged that she knew the representation was false.
Testifying before the court, Okeigwe said he contacted the defendant after a man identified as Mr Tom allegedly arrived at the property with police officers and had some workers arrested.
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The witness said he informed Blessing CEO about the incident, but she allegedly denied knowing the man while maintaining that she owned the property.
“I 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,” Okeigwe told the court.
He also identified WhatsApp messages in which the defendant allegedly sent him photographs of the building as evidence of her ownership.
According to his testimony, additional payments were made for agency, legal and caution fees in connection with the lease transaction.
Okeigwe further alleged that Blessing CEO collected money from him and another individual in relation to the same property.
The charge against the influencer is brought under Section 1(2) and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until October 26, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
