The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has reserved ruling on the bail application filed by social media influencer Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, who is currently facing trial over an alleged N36 million fraud case.
The court, presided over by Justice D.I. Dipeolu, fixed June 9, 2026, for ruling on the bail request and June 22, 2026, for continuation of trial proceedings.
The development was disclosed in a statement shared by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on its X handle on Friday.
Nkiruka is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and theft involving the sum of N36 million.
During the bail hearing, defence counsel P.I. Nwafuru prayed the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms.
However, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, opposed the application, informing the court that the EFCC had submitted a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit deposed to by the investigating officer, Bufa Regina Okangbe, on May 29, 2026.
“We rely on all the depositions contained therein and the exhibits attached. At some point during the course of 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,” Suleiman submitted.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Dipeolu reserved ruling on the bail application until June 9, 2026.
Earlier in the proceedings, the prosecution called its first witness, EFCC investigator Bufa Regina Okangbe, who detailed steps taken during the investigation.
Okangbe told the court that the Commission acted on a petition and carried out several inquiries, including a Bank Verification Number search, requests for bank records, and checks with the Lagos State Land Bureau and the Corporate Affairs Commission.
She stated that records from the Lagos State Land Bureau indicated that the property at the centre of the dispute belonged to Mr Tunbosun Osobu, not the defendant.
According to her testimony, the petitioner paid N36 million through company accounts for the lease of a property located at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos.
She further told the court that analysis of the defendant’s bank accounts revealed multiple transfers made to different individuals after the funds were received.
During the hearing, the prosecution tendered several exhibits, including the petition, the defendant’s statements, tenancy documents, and bank records.
The defence objected to the admissibility of some of the documents, particularly the defendant’s statements, arguing that no legal practitioner was present during the recording process.
The prosecution countered the objection, arguing that the law only requires the presence of a legal practitioner or any person chosen by the defendant.
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu overruled the objections and admitted the documents as exhibits.
The judge held that Section 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act allows a suspect’s statement to be taken in the presence of a legal practitioner, a representative of the Legal Aid Council, a civil society group member, or any person chosen by the suspect.
Under cross-examination, the witness said the Federal Republic of Nigeria was not aware of any settlement agreement allegedly reached between the defendant and the petitioner.
She also stated that she was not aware of any attempt by the defendant to refund N24 million to the petitioner as claimed by the defence.
The matter was thereafter adjourned to June 9, 2026, for ruling on the bail application and June 22, 2026, for continuation of trial.