Court Orders Further Review of Blessing CEO in Alleged N13 Million Scam and Forged Medical Report

Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered that Blessing Nkiruka Okoro—known online as Blessing CEO—remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Ikoyi until her trial begins on 24 September 2026.

Yesterday, Blessing CEO was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on six counts that include obtaining money by false pretence, forgery, possession of false documents, fraudulent conversion, concealment, and retention of proceeds of unlawful activities.

The EFCC alleges that she solicited N13 million from unsuspecting members of the public by claiming she had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, specifically breast cancer, and by presenting a forged medical report.

At the arraignment, EFCC counsel H.U. Kofanaisa informed the court that the Commission had filed a six‑count charge and requested that the charges be read to the defendant so she could enter a plea. The court complied, and Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to all six counts.

The charge states that she fraudulently obtained N13 million by falsely representing that she had a left breast lump and invasive ductal carcinoma with lobular features. The anti‑graft agency also accuses her of forging a “Histopathology/Cytopathology Report” purportedly issued by Xinus Medical Diagnostics, using the document to gain financial advantage, possessing and using the forged report, concealing the source of the N13 million, fraudulently converting the money to her personal use, and retaining the funds in her personal GTBank account.

Following the plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant pending the hearing. Defendant’s counsel, Stanley Ofoegbu, noted that a formal bail application had not yet been filed and offered to make an oral application for bail or seek a short adjournment. Justice Bogoro declined the oral application and set the trial for 24 September 2026, ordering that the defendant be remanded in NCoS custody until then.

“This matter is adjourned to 24 September 2026 for trial. The defendant is to be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service,” the judge ruled.

The latest arraignment follows a separate Federal High Court decision in Lagos that granted Blessing CEO bail in another fraud case. On 9 June 2026, Justice Deinde Dipeolu granted her bail of N10 million with two sureties of the same amount in a N36 million fraud case instituted by the EFCC.

On the same day, she was arraigned before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on a two‑count charge alleging that she defrauded Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Ltd of N69.15 million. She pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for 16 July 2026.