The legal proceedings involving controversial relationship coach and social media personality Blessing Okoro, widely known as Blessing CEO, took a significant turn on Friday as the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, reserved its ruling on her bail application until June 9, 2026.
Charges and Allegations
Blessing CEO is currently facing a two-count charge filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges include obtaining money under false pretenses and stealing N36 million in connection with a disputed property transaction.
Defense Arguments
During Friday's proceedings, the defense counsel, P.I. Nwafuru, appealed to the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms. He argued that Blessing CEO would make herself available throughout the trial and posed no flight risk.
Prosecution's Opposition
However, the prosecution, led by S.I. Suleiman, strongly opposed the bail request. Suleiman informed the court that the EFCC had filed a comprehensive counter-affidavit challenging the bail application. He alleged that investigators encountered difficulties during the probe, as the defendant allegedly stopped responding to invitations from the Commission.
The prosecution urged the court to reject the bail request and instead focus on ensuring a speedy trial, emphasizing that the allegations involve serious financial misconduct that requires urgent judicial attention.
Testimony from First Witness
Beyond the bail arguments, the court heard testimony from the prosecution's first witness, EFCC investigator Bufa Regina Okangbe. She provided a detailed account of the investigation that led to the charges against the social media influencer.
Okangbe stated that the Commission launched an investigation after receiving a petition alleging that Blessing CEO collected N36 million from a complainant in connection with a property transaction. Investigators conducted extensive checks, including a Bank Verification Number (BVN) search, which allegedly revealed multiple bank accounts linked to the defendant.
The witness further disclosed that the EFCC contacted several financial institutions, the Lagos State Land Bureau, and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to verify ownership claims related to the disputed property and establish the flow of funds connected to the transaction.
Key Findings
During questioning, the defendant allegedly made statements in the presence of her husband and legal representative, acknowledging receipt of N30 million from the complainant. A key aspect of the prosecution's case emerged from findings obtained from the Lagos State Land Bureau, which showed that the property at the center of the dispute was not owned by Blessing CEO but by one Tunbosun Osobu.
The court heard that Osobu later appeared before investigators alongside his lawyer and son, confirming that he had leased the property to the defendant for a three-year period. The lease expired in 2023 and was renewed in 2025.
Okangbe also revealed that the complainant submitted several documents to investigators, including a tenancy acquisition form and a lease agreement allegedly executed between the complainant and the defendant.
Evidence Tendered
To strengthen the case, the EFCC tendered several documents through the witness, including the original petition, statements made by the defendant during the investigation, tenancy records, and bank statements linked to both the complainant and the defendant.
With arguments on the bail application concluded and evidence unfolding, attention now shifts to June 9, when Justice D.I. Dipeolu is expected to decide whether Blessing CEO will be granted bail pending the determination of the alleged N36 million fraud case.
