Court Reserves Ruling on Blessing CEO’s Bail Application in N36m Fraud Case

LAGOS, Nigeria – The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has reserved ruling on the bail application filed by social media influencer and relationship therapist Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, who is facing trial over an alleged N36 million fraud. Justice D.I. Dipeolu fixed June 9, 2026, for ruling on the application after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence on Friday, June 5, 2026. The judge adjourned the matter after listening to submissions relating to the bail request.

Blessing CEO is being prosecuted by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N36 million. She has pleaded not guilty to the allegations. According to the anti-graft agency, the case stems from allegations that the defendant obtained N36 million from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and July 17, 2024, under the false pretence of securing the lease of a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos. The EFCC further alleged that the representation was false and that the money was subsequently converted for personal use.

Blessing CEO was first arraigned on May 15, 2026, before Justice Dipeolu. At the commencement of proceedings during her arraignment, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, informed the court that his client had already refunded N24 million of the disputed amount to the petitioner. He requested a short adjournment to allow for settlement of the outstanding N12 million balance, adding that the nominal complainant had agreed that if the balance was paid, they could prevail on the EFCC to drop the case. However, prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, opposed the request, arguing that any arrangement between the defendant and the petitioner would not affect the criminal proceedings before the court. “The complainant here is the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we are here for the arraignment. We urge that the defendant take her plea, as that is the business of the day,” he said.

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In his ruling at the arraignment, Justice Dipeolu held that discussions between both parties could continue independently without affecting the criminal process. “The defence and the nominal complainant can have discussions even during the pendency of the charge. It does not affect the proceedings before the court. The defendant will take her plea,” the judge ruled. After Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to the charges, the prosecution applied for a trial date and prayed the court to remand her in a correctional facility pending trial. However, the defendant’s counsel informed the court that his client had only been served with the charge on Thursday, May 14, 2026, and that efforts were ongoing to file her bail application. He, therefore, prayed that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection of her bail conditions, a request Justice Dipeolu granted. The matter was then adjourned until June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.

One of the charges against Blessing CEO 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.” Another count accuses her of “fraudulently converting to your own use the sum of N36,000,000.00 (Thirty-six Million Naira), property of Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

The case has drawn significant public attention, given Blessing CEO’s status as a prominent social media personality and relationship therapist. Following her arraignment, the influencer surfaced online with a video appealing to Nigerians to keep her in their prayers. “Keep me in your prayers. It will end in praise,” she said. Weeks before her arraignment, the influencer had announced that she had stage four cancer and sought donations from well-meaning Nigerians. The EFCC disclosed the latest development in a statement on Friday, noting that the court had adjourned for a decision on the bail application. Further proceedings in the matter are expected to continue after the court delivers its ruling on the bail application on June 9, 2026.

Court Reserves Ruling on Blessing CEO’s Bail Application in N36m Fraud Case

He forced himself on me every night: Anambra Teenager Gang-Raped by Guardian, Seven Others

AWKA, Nigeria – A 16-year-old girl has been rescued from a nightmare of repeated sexual abuse after her own guardian allegedly forced himself on her nightly and brought seven other men to join in the assaults in Nawfia community, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State. The teenager, whose name is being withheld for legal and safety reasons, is now two months pregnant as confirmed by a medical report presented to the Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Esther Onyekesi. The case came to light when a Catholic priest from Nawfia intervened after learning of the abuse and reported it to the commissioner’s office. A “Good Samaritan” had earlier facilitated the girl’s rescue from the abusive environment last week.

The Anambra State Government has vowed to ensure justice for the 16-year-old girl, with Commissioner Onyekesi, visibly emotional and in a weeping mood, promising that all perpetrators would be brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others. “The state government condemned this act in strong terms, and the ministry will ensure that all perpetrators in the dastardly act are brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others,” Onyekesi said during an interaction with newsmen in Awka, the state capital. The commissioner expressed deep outrage over the level of trauma the teenager endured at the hands of adults who were entrusted with her protection. “We express deep outrage over the level of trauma the young girl had endured at the hands of adults who were entrusted with her protection. This is unacceptable. We urge men to protect women and young girls, rather than take advantage of their vulnerability,” she stated.

While recounting her ordeal at the commissioner’s office, the victim revealed that her guardian had been forcing himself on her every night, with other men later joining in the sexual assaults. She said a “Good Samaritan” facilitated her rescue from the abusive situation last week, after which some arrests were made before she was brought to the commissioner’s office for safety. The victim also stated that the guardian’s wife is a stroke patient and was unable to intervene in the assaults. She further noted that the guardian’s children were grown and some married, yet none intervened in the ongoing abuse.

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The victim informed the commissioner that two of the eight suspects had been caught by police at the Nawfia Division, while the remaining six were still on the run. The case is currently being processed at the Nawfia Police Station. Commissioner Onyekesi assured the victim of her safety and pledged that the ministry would follow the case diligently to ensure justice is fully served.

This horrific case exposes the dark reality of abuse by trusted guardians in informal care arrangements. The primary perpetrator was the very person entrusted with the girl’s protection. Instead of safety, she found repeated violation inside what should have been her home. The case also highlights the critical role community members can play in rescuing victims. Without the intervention of the Good Samaritan who facilitated her escape and the Catholic priest who reported the matter to authorities, the abuse might have continued indefinitely.

In a related incident that underscores the persistent threat of sexual violence in Anambra State, the body of a sexagenarian woman, Victoria Adegoke, was discovered abandoned in a nearby bush in May. The victim was found naked and suspected of having been raped and strangled before her body was carried into the bush. That case remains under investigation, and authorities have not announced any arrests.

The Anambra State Government has assured the public that it will not rest until all the perpetrators in both cases are apprehended and prosecuted. The case of the 16-year-old serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of children in informal guardianship arrangements and the urgent need for community vigilance, stronger protective mechanisms, and swift legal action against sexual predators.

He forced himself on me every night: Anambra Teenager Gang-Raped by Guardian, Seven Others

Emir of Argungu Urges Communities to Legally Acquire Weapons for Self-Defence

ARGUNGU, Nigeria – Amid rising insecurity in northwestern Nigeria, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Mera, has issued a stark warning: Muslims must not remain passive while bandits and terrorists unleash violence on innocent communities. Speaking during an emergency security meeting with district, village, and ward heads at his palace in Argungu, Kebbi State, the traditional ruler advised residents to lawfully acquire weapons for the protection of their families, farms, and communities. “It is not right for a Muslim to remain passive while criminals kill people, kidnap innocent citizens, and rape our women,” the Emir declared. “Be prepared to defend yourselves, your families, and your communities against any attack.”

The Emir expressed deep frustration over the vulnerability of rural communities, noting that many villages lack any form of organized defence. When bandits strike, he said, even village heads flee. “When bandits attack, people start running, including village heads. This is happening because communities do not have adequate means of self-defence,” he explained. According to the monarch, communities should explore collective efforts to raise funds for the purchase of legally approved weapons to strengthen local self-defence. He also urged residents to ensure that potential attackers know a community is capable of fighting back. “If you acquire such weapons legally, make sure the bandits are aware that your community possesses the means to defend itself. This alone can serve as a deterrent and discourage attacks,” he said.

Citing Islamic principles, the Emir argued that passivity in the face of aggression is not supported by the faith. His comments come as Lakurawa terrorists and armed bandits continue to terrorize parts of Kebbi State, killing scores and kidnapping women and children. He clarified, however, that his call is not an endorsement of vigilantism or unlawful actions. He stressed that lawful self-defence had become necessary because security agencies alone cannot shoulder the burden of the escalating crisis.

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While advocating for self-defence, the Emir issued a firm warning against retaliatory violence. “I will not support anyone who uses weapons to target other ethnic groups or engage in unlawful acts,” Mera said. He noted that many attacks in the region are retaliatory in nature, and he appealed to residents not to embark on revenge missions against innocent people. Unlawful killings, he warned, often trigger fresh cycles of violence.

The Emir’s address reflects a grim security reality in Kebbi State. In recent months, Kebbi State has witnessed several deadly incidents. In February 2026, over 30 villagers were killed by Lakurawa fighters in the Bui district of Arewa. In November 2025, about 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga. Multiple villages have been razed, and cattle rustling remains rampant. The Emir alleged that although many members of the Lakurawa group have left the area, armed bandits linked to them remain active and continue to terrorize local communities through existing networks.

The Emir of Argungu is not alone in calling for citizens to take up arms. Across Nigeria, there is a growing debate over whether the state has failed in its constitutional duty to protect lives and property. The Middle Belt Forum has called on the federal government to liberalize access to basic self-defence weapons, citing Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution (right to life). Legal suits have been filed against the government over the refusal to grant firearm licences to citizens for self-defence. Additionally, the Northern States Governors’ Forum has renewed calls for state policing to address localized security threats.

To avoid misinterpretation, the Emir made several clarifications about what he is not calling for. He is not calling for vigilantism or mob justice. He is not supporting ethnic or religious violence. He opposes extrajudicial killings and revenge attacks. Instead, he urges residents to cooperate with security agencies and conduct their affairs with the fear of God. His message is one of lawful, defensive preparedness, not offensive aggression or lawlessness.

In his final advice to communities across the Argungu Emirate, the Emir urged residents to remain vigilant, share intelligence with security forces, and prioritize lawful conduct. “Do not rely on weapons alone,” he said. “Be alert, cooperate with authorities, and let the fear of God guide your actions.” The monarch acknowledged that security agencies alone cannot solve the crisis, but stressed that community efforts must remain within the bounds of the law.

Emir of Argungu Urges Communities to Legally Acquire Weapons for Self-Defence