The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has adjourned ruling on the bail application of self-styled relationship therapist, Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, to June 9, 2026. She is standing trial over an alleged ₦36 million property fraud case being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Deinde Dipeolu fixed the date after hearing arguments from both the defence and prosecution, and later ordered that proceedings should continue on June 22, 2026.
The defendant’s counsel, P.I. Nwafuru, told the court that the bail application filed on May 15, 2026, was backed by a six-paragraph affidavit and five exhibits. He urged the court to grant bail on what he described as “liberal terms,” asking the court to exercise discretion in favour of the defendant.
However, the EFCC strongly opposed the request. Prosecuting counsel Suleiman Suleiman informed the court that a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit had been filed on May 29, 2026, deposed to by investigating officer Bufa Regina Okangbe. He argued that the defendant had at some point allegedly stopped responding to the Commission’s invitations during investigation.
“We rely on all the depositions contained therein and the exhibits attached,” the prosecution stated, urging the court instead to fast-track the trial.
After listening to both sides, Justice Dipeolu reserved ruling on the bail application.
Earlier in the proceedings, EFCC investigator Bufa Regina Okangbe testified as the prosecution’s first witness, presenting details of how the agency allegedly uncovered a ₦36 million transaction linked to the defendant.
According to her testimony, the EFCC received a petition which was assigned to her investigative team. A Bank Verification Number (BVN) search reportedly revealed multiple accounts connected to the defendant, prompting further inquiries with banks and relevant agencies.
“Following this, letters of investigation were sent to the banks, while another letter was forwarded to the Lagos State Land Bureau to determine whether the property belonged to the defendant,” she told the court.
She also testified that inquiries were made to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) regarding the defendant’s company, Break or Makeup Limited.
Okangbe further told the court that the defendant was later invited and confronted with account transactions traced to her and the petitioner. She stated that statements were made under caution in the presence of the defendant’s lawyer and husband, during which the defendant allegedly admitted receiving ₦30 million.
The witness added that responses from the Lagos State Land Bureau indicated that the property in question did not belong to the defendant but to one Tunbosun Osobu, who later confirmed leasing the property to her for three years, with the lease expiring in 2023 and renewed in 2025.
During further proceedings, the prosecution tendered several documents, including the petition dated February 18, 2025; statements allegedly made by the defendant in December 2025; tenancy documents; bank statements from Zenith Bank in the name of Pipes and Barrel Limited; and statements from GTBank and Access Bank accounts linked to the defendant.
The defence objected, particularly to the admissibility of the defendant’s statements, arguing that there was no clear indication a legal practitioner was present during the recording process, and that no video evidence was provided.
In response, the prosecution maintained that the absence of a lawyer does not automatically invalidate such statements. “The law only requires the presence of a legal practitioner or any person chosen by the defendant,” Suleiman argued.
Justice Dipeolu admitted the documents into evidence, referencing Section 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which allows a suspect’s statement to be taken in the presence of a lawyer, a Legal Aid representative, a civil society representative, or any person chosen by the suspect.
The witness further testified that ₦36 million was paid in total by the petitioner through the company’s account—₦25 million into the defendant’s GTBank account and ₦11 million into her Access Bank account—for the lease of a property at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos.
She also detailed subsequent transfers allegedly traced from the defendant’s accounts, including ₦8 million to Mr and Mrs Osobu, ₦1.9 million to Beauty City by Lekki, ₦11 million to the defendant’s mother, Lina Uzoma Okoro, and ₦15 million to Kenneth Emeka Onuora.
Under cross-examination, the witness stated that the EFCC was not privy to any private settlement between the defendant and the petitioner. She also said she was unaware of any alleged partial refund of ₦24 million raised by the defence.
Okangbe further told the court that the complainant had already begun renovation work on the property before being allegedly removed by the property owner.
The case, which borders on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing, will continue on June 22, 2026.
One of the charges reads that Okoro allegedly obtained ₦36 million from Mrs Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, under the pretence of leasing a six-bedroom duplex in Lekki, “which representation you knew to be false,” contrary to the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.