Court remands Blessing CEO over alleged N13m medical scam, forgery

Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday ordered the remand of social media influencer Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the commencement of her trial over an alleged N13 million medical fraud and forgery case.

The influencer was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, possession of false documents, obtaining money under false pretences, fraudulent conversion of funds, and retention of proceeds of unlawful activities.

According to the charge, Blessing CEO, allegedly forged and used a medical report claiming she had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, specifically a left breast lump and invasive ductal carcinoma with lobular features, to solicit financial assistance from members of the public.

The anti-graft agency further alleged that she knowingly forged a document titled “Histopathology/Cytopathology Report”, purportedly issued by Xinus Medical Diagnostics, with the intention of gaining financial advantage from unsuspecting members of the public.

The EFCC also accused her of obtaining N13 million from members of the public under the guise of seeking medical treatment support and subsequently retaining and converting the funds for personal use.

At the commencement of proceedings, EFCC counsel, H.U. Kofanaisa, informed the court that the Commission had filed the six-count charge against the defendant and requested that the charges be read for her to take her plea.

After the charges were read, Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Following her plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant pending trial.

Counsel to the defendant, Stanley Ofoegbu, informed the court that although a formal bail application had not yet been filed, he sought leave to make an oral bail application or, alternatively, requested a short adjournment.

Justice Bogoro declined the oral bail application and held that a formal bail application must be properly filed before the court.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until September 24, 2026, for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ikoyi.

“This matter is adjourned to September 24, 2026, for trial. The defendant is to be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service,” Justice Bogoro ruled.

Among the allegations contained in the charge are that the defendant fraudulently obtained N13 million from members of the public through false claims of suffering from terminal cancer, forged medical documents to support the claims, retained the proceeds in her personal bank account, and disguised the source of the funds.

The alleged offences are said to contravene provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, the EFCC (Establishment) Act, the Criminal Code Act, and the Miscellaneous Offences Act.