- The Federal High Court in Ikoyi has postponed its ruling on the bail application for controversial social media influencer Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, also known as Blessing CEO.
- The EFCC vehemently blocked the release request, presenting a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit that accused the defendant of dodging official invitations during investigations.
- Investigative findings from the Lagos State Land Bureau revealed that the Lekki property leased out for ₦36 million actually belongs to a third party, Mr. Tunbosun Osobu.
The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has officially reserved its ruling on the bail application filed by controversial social media influencer Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, widely known as Blessing CEO, until June 9, 2026.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed the judicial delay in a public statement issued on Friday.
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Presiding judge Justice D.I. Dipeolu opted to adjourn the high-profile proceeding to evaluate arguments from both legal teams, setting June 9 for the definitive bail verdict and slating June 22, 2026, for the formal continuation of the trial.
The social media personality is currently facing a two-count criminal charge bordering on stealing and obtaining money under false pretences to the tune of ₦36 million.
During the intense courtroom session, defence counsel P.I. Nwafuru pressed the court to release his client, pleading for bail under the most liberal conditions available.
This request was countered by prosecution lead S.I. Suleiman, who presented a detailed 28-paragraph counter-affidavit sworn to by EFCC investigating officer Bufa Regina Okangbe on May 29, 2026.
Suleiman argued that the social media influencer demonstrated a history of non-compliance, stating that she intentionally stopped honoring official invitations extended by the commission during the active investigation.
Urging the court to flatly deny the bail application, the prosecution demanded an accelerated hearing to conclude the fraud case swiftly.
The court proceedings advanced with testimony from the prosecution’s initial witness, investigator Okangbe, who detailed the comprehensive financial and administrative tracking conducted by the EFCC.
The investigator testified that following a formal petition, the agency conducted extensive checks, including Bank Verification Number (BVN) searches, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) audits, and official property verifications through the Lagos State Land Bureau.
State land records conclusively proved that the Lekki property at the center of the financial dispute, located at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, legally belongs to a citizen named Mr. Tunbosun Osobu, rather than the defendant.
Okangbe stated that the petitioner paid ₦36 million into company accounts for a lease on the asset, after which bank records showed Blessing CEO rapidly redistributed the funds across multiple individual accounts.
The session also saw a sharp legal dispute over the admissibility of the influencer’s recorded statements, with the defence objecting because no legal practitioner was present during the interrogation.
Justice Dipeolu ultimately overruled the objection, admitting the documents as exhibits by pointing out that Section 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act allows statements to be taken in the presence of alternative representatives chosen by the suspect.
Under cross-examination, the witness clarified that the state was not a party to any private settlement, adding she was completely unaware of claims by the defence that Blessing CEO had attempted to refund ₦24 million to the petitioner.
