A prosecution witness has told a Lagos court how he allegedly paid ₦69.15 million to social media influencer Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, for a five-year lease of a property in Lekki, which he claimed was falsely presented to him as belonging to her.
The witness, Dr Onuoha Okeigwe, testified on Monday, October 12, before Justice R. A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, during the continuation of Blessing CEO’s trial over allegations of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
According to a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the commission arraigned Blessing CEO on June 9, 2026, on a two-count charge involving the alleged ₦69.15 million transaction.
The prosecution alleged that on or about March 21, 2025, the defendant induced Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited to pay the money under the representation that a property at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, belonged to her and was available for a five-year lease.
The charge states that the representation was allegedly false. The prosecution brought the allegation under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.
Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to her.
During his testimony, Okeigwe told the court that he contacted the defendant after problems arose concerning the property. According to him, she denied knowing a man identified as Mr Tom, who allegedly arrived at the premises with police officers and arrested some of the clinic’s workers.
The witness said he paid ₦100,000 to secure the workers’ release.
“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,” he told the court.
Okeigwe also identified WhatsApp messages which he said showed that the defendant had sent him photographs of the building as evidence of her claimed ownership.
He further testified that, in addition to the main payment, he paid charges relating to agency, legal and caution fees.
The witness maintained that the central issue was his allegation that Blessing CEO was not the actual owner of the property despite receiving the money for the lease. He also alleged that she collected money from him and another individual in connection with the same property.
The allegations remain before the court, and the defendant has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution is expected to present further evidence as the trial continues.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until October 26, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings.
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