Social media personality, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has pleaded not guilty to a fresh six-count charge filed against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N13 million fraud.
Key Highlights:
The anti-graft agency accused the defendant of obtaining money from members of the public under false pretences and retaining the proceeds of the alleged crime. The charges followed petitions submitted by several individuals and organizations, including the Nigeria Cancer Society.
According to the EFCC, Blessing CEO allegedly solicited financial support through social media after claiming she was battling Stage 4 breast cancer and required funds for medical treatment. The commission alleged that donors contributed a total of N13 million based on the claims.
Investigations, however, reportedly revealed that the medical documents presented by the defendant were allegedly falsified.
Read Also:
- Court grants Blessing CEO N10m bail, orders remand pending trial
- Court defers ruling on Blessing CEO’s bail request in alleged N36m fraud case
- Alleged N36m Fraud: EFCC arraigns Blessing CEO in Lagos
One of the charges stated that the defendant obtained N13 million from unsuspecting citizens by falsely claiming she had been diagnosed with a terminal illness involving a left breast lump and invasive ductal carcinoma with lobular features, knowing the representation to be false.
The EFCC also alleged that she knowingly forged a medical report titled “Histopathology/Cytopathology Report,” purportedly issued by Xinus Medical Diagnostics, with the intention of gaining financial advantage from members of the public.
The offences are said to contravene provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, as well as the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
When the charges were read before the court, Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Following her plea, prosecution counsel H. U. KofarNaisa requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.
Defence counsel, Stanley Ofoegbu, opposed the request and urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter for ruling on the bail application and commencement of trial.
