A prosecution witness in the alleged N69.15 million fraud trial of social media influencer Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has told a Lagos court that he paid the influencer for a five-year lease of a property she allegedly did not own.

The witness, Dr Onuoha Okeigwe, testified as the first prosecution witness (PW1) on Monday, October 12, 2026, before Justice R. A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

Okeigwe told the court that he paid N69,150,000 to lease a property at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, after the defendant allegedly represented herself as its owner.

Blessing CEO was arraigned on June 9, 2026, 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.

According to the prosecution, the charges arose from a lease transaction involving Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited.

The first count alleges that, on or about March 21, 2025, the defendant induced the company to pay N69,150,000 by falsely representing that she owned the Lekki property and was leasing it to the company for five years.

The charge is said to be contrary to Section 1(2) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

While testifying, Okeigwe said he contacted Blessing CEO after concerns arose over the property, but she allegedly dismissed his concerns.

He further told the court that a man identified as Mr Tom later arrived at the premises with police officers and arrested some of the clinic’s workers.

According to the witness, he informed the defendant about the incident, but she allegedly denied knowing the man.

“I informed the defendant, and she claimed she did not know Mr Tom. I paid N100,000 to secure the release of my workers. Blessing still maintained that she did not know Mr Tom and that she was the owner of the property,” he said.

Okeigwe also identified WhatsApp messages in which the defendant allegedly sent him photographs of the building as evidence of her claimed ownership.

He told the court that he paid additional charges associated with the transaction, including agency, legal and caution fees.Blessing CEO: Witness Alleges Influencer Leased Property She Did Not Own