The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday admitted into evidence the statement of social media influencer and relationship therapist, Nkeiruka Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, as well as bank records and a lease agreement in her ongoing alleged N36 million fraud trial.
Blessing CEO is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Isaac Dipeolu on a two-count charge bordering on alleged obtaining by false pretence and stealing.
The EFCC had arraigned her in May over allegations that she obtained N36 million from one Mrs Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the pretext of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the last adjourned date, defence counsel, N. I. Nwafor, had informed the court that the defendant had refunded part of the money to the complainant.
However, the prosecution counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, argued that the Federal Government was the complainant in the criminal charge and that the EFCC was not part of any settlement arrangement.
The court consequently adjourned the case for trial to commence.
At the resumed hearing on Friday, the prosecution called its first witness, Mrs Bufa Okangbe, an investigator with the EFCC, and sought to tender some documents through her.
The documents included the defendant’s statement, a copy of a lease agreement, and bank records from Access Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank, among others.
Defence counsel objected to the admissibility of the lease agreement, arguing that it was a photocopy. He also objected to the tendering of the defendant’s statement on the ground that it was not endorsed in the presence of a legal practitioner.
He further objected to the bank documents on the ground of certification, citing provisions of the Evidence Act, including Sections 84, 89 and 90.
In response, the prosecution relied on provisions of the Evidence Act, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and judicial authorities, arguing that admissibility of documents is governed by relevance.
In a short ruling, Justice Dipeolu overruled the objections and admitted the documents as exhibits.
Okangbe told the court that Blessing CEO admitted in her statement that she received payments from the nominal complainant.
Okangbe told the court that Blessing CEO admitted in her statement that she received payments from the nominal complainant.
According to the witness, the defendant received N25 million in her Guaranty Trust Bank account in July 2024 and later received an additional N11 million in her Access Bank account in connection with the alleged lease transaction.
On how the funds were disbursed, the witness said the defendant transferred N8 million to one Mr Thomas Osogun and Mrs Jumoke Osogun in July 2024.
She also told the court that the defendant made payments of N9 million, N900,000 and N2 million respectively to her mother, Mrs Lina Okoro, and transferred N10 million to one Kenneth Onuora.
The witness further stated that the defendant paid N1.9 million to one De Beauty City by Lekki.
Okangbe said EFCC investigations showed that the complainant paid the defendant N36 million in two tranches of N25 million and N11 million for the lease of a property in Lekki.