A Federal High Court in Ikoyi has ordered social media personality Blessing CEO remanded in EFCC custody. She faces charges tied to an alleged N36 million fraud.
Blessing CEO appeared before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on Friday.
She was arraigned on two counts of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
According to the prosecution, she defrauded Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024.
The money was allegedly obtained under the guise of securing a lease for a six-bedroom duplex in Lekki, Lagos.
Her defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, made an unusual request in court.
He told the judge that Blessing CEO had already refunded N24 million to the complainant.
Nwafor urged the court for a brief adjournment to settle the remaining balance. He noted that both parties had agreed the EFCC could drop the case once full payment was made.
"The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded N24 million out of the N36 million," Nwafor told the court. "We are asking for a short adjournment to resolve the outstanding balance."
But the prosecution objected strongly to this approach. Lead prosecutor S.I.
Suleiman argued the Federal Government remained the true complainant in the matter.
Suleiman insisted the court proceed with the arraignment as scheduled. "The complainant here is the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we are here for the arraignment," he told Justice Dipeolu.
The judge sided with the prosecution on this point. He ruled that private settlements couldn't override criminal proceedings before the court.
"The defence and the nominal complainant can have discussions even during the pendency of the charge," Justice Dipeolu stated. "It does not affect the proceedings before the court."
When the charges were read to her, Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty. The charges alleged she knew her representations about the property lease were false.
Prosecutors sought a trial date and requested she be held in custody pending trial. Her defence team countered with a different proposal.
Nwafor informed the court that the charges had only reached his client on May 14. He said a bail application was still being prepared.
He therefore requested that Blessing CEO be remanded in EFCC custody instead of a prison facility. Justice Dipeolu approved this request.
Trial is now scheduled to commence on June 5, 2026. The matter was adjourned until that date for the actual trial proceedings to begin.
