Social media influencer Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, allegedly obtained N69.15 million from a businessman after claiming ownership of a Lekki property she purported to lease to him for five years, a prosecution witness has told a Lagos court.
The witness, Dr Onuoha Okeigwe, told the court that he paid the money after the influencer allegedly presented a property at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, as her own.
However, the transaction reportedly took a different turn when a man identified as Mr Tom arrived at the premises with police officers and arrested some of the workers there.
“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.
Okeigwe, who testified as the first prosecution witness, said he had WhatsApp messages in which Blessing CEO allegedly sent him photographs of the building to support her claim of ownership. He added that he paid additional agency, legal and caution fees as part of the transaction.
The witness further alleged that the influencer collected money from another person for the same property. He maintained that the central issue was her alleged claim to ownership despite not being the actual owner.
The allegations are contained in a two-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1. The commission accused Blessing CEO of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing N69.15 million.
According to the EFCC, on or about March 21, 2025, the defendant allegedly induced Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited to pay the money by falsely claiming ownership of the Lekki property and offering it to the company on a five-year lease.
Blessing CEO was arraigned on June 9, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice R. A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, adjourned the case until October 26, 2026, for continuation of the trial.