Alleged ₦36m Fraud: Court reserves ruling on Blessing CEO’s bail application

A Lagos court has reserved its decision on a bail application for social media influencer Blessing Okoro, widely known as Blessing CEO, who faces charges of alleged ₦36 million fraud. The Federal High Court in Ikoyi heard arguments on Friday, with Justice D.I. Dipeolu scheduling the ruling for June 9.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Okoro on two counts: obtaining money by false pretense and stealing. During the proceedings, her defense counsel urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms. However, the prosecution, represented by S.I. Suleiman, opposed the request, citing a counter-affidavit that detailed Okoro's alleged failure to honor invitations extended by the EFCC during the investigation.

Suleiman urged the court to order an accelerated hearing of the case instead of granting bail. The EFCC investigator, Bufa Regina Okangbe, testified as the prosecution's first witness, detailing findings from the investigation. She stated that the EFCC received a petition alleging Okoro collected money for a property transaction involving a house she did not own.

Okangbe explained that the EFCC conducted a Bank Verification Number (BVN) search, obtained banking records, and contacted the Lagos State Land Bureau and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to verify property ownership. The investigation reportedly revealed the disputed property did not belong to Okoro. The witness further testified that Okoro made statements under caution in the presence of her lawyer and husband after being invited by the commission. Records from the Lagos State Land Bureau identified the property owner as Tunbosun Osobu, who confirmed leasing the property to Okoro for three years, with the tenancy expiring in 2023 and renewed until 2025.

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We rely on all the depositions contained therein and the exhibits attached. At some point during the investigation, the defendant stopped honouring invitations extended to her by the Commission. We urge Your Lordship not to accede to the request of the defence and instead order an accelerated hearing of the matter.