The trial of social media personality and relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, widely known as Blessing CEO, was unable to proceed on Wednesday after her lawyer informed the court that she was ill while in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
Blessing CEO is facing trial before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on a two-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
She is accused of obtaining money under false pretences and allegedly stealing N36 million.
At the resumed hearing, her counsel, P.I. Nwafuru, told the court that officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service had informed him that his client was unwell and could not be brought to court for the day’s proceedings.
The defence lawyer consequently applied for an adjournment, assuring the court that a medical report detailing her condition would be presented at the next hearing.
Following the application, Justice D.I. Dipeolu adjourned the case until Monday, July 20, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
One of the charges against the defendant reads:
“That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA, between July 14 and 17, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did obtain the sum of N36,000,000.00 (Thirty-six Million Naira) from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the false pretence of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex situated at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, Off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State, which representation you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
