The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has rearraigned social media influencer Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, over an alleged ₦13 million cancer donation fraud.
EFCC had earlier arraigned Blessing CEO on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of ₦36 million.
According to the Commission, the influencer was rearraigned before Justice Yelim Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 on Wednesday.
The Commission disclosed that it filed a fresh six-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and retaining proceeds of crime amounting to ₦13 million against her following the receipt of several petitions from individuals and groups, including the Nigeria Cancer Society.
The petitioners allegedly made donations to the defendant after her social media posts claimed that she was battling Stage 4 breast cancer and sought financial support for treatment.
The anti-graft agency added that she was later discovered to have allegedly falsified the document she presented to members of the public.
One of the counts reads: “That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA (A.K.A. BLESSING CEO), female, adult, sometime in 2026 in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did obtain the total sum of ₦13,000,000 (Thirteen Million Naira) from unsuspecting citizens under the false pretence of being diagnosed with a terminal illness, to wit: left breast lump and invasive ductal carcinoma with lobular feature, which representation you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
Another count reads: “That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA (A.K.A BLESSING CEO), female, adult, sometime in 2026 in Lagos State within the Jurisdiction of this honourable court, knowingly forged a medical report titled “Histopathology/Cytopathology Report”, purported to have emanated from Xinus Medical Diagnostics knowing same to be false with intent to gain advantage for yourself from unsuspecting citizens and you, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to her.
Following her plea, the prosecution counsel H. U. KofarNaisa, asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre.
Responding, counsel to the defendant, Stanley Ofoegbu, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him file a bail application.
Consequently, Justice Bogoro adjourned the matter until September 24, 2026, for the commencement of trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre.
