Court Remands Blogger, Blessing CEO, Over Cyber-bullying, Libel

The Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded self-acclaimed relationship blogger Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, in prison over allegations of Cyber-bullying.

The social media influencer was arraigned before Justice Yelim Bogoro by the police on a six-count charge of alleged Cyber-bullying, libel and for exhibiting uncensored movies, 

Justice Bogoro ordered the controversial blogger to be kept in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services after she pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Rotshang Faith Dimka, had told the court that the defendant, a resident of 1b, Tunbosun Osoby Street, off Kuboye Road Lekki, Lagos State, on October 16, 2022, did intentionally sent messages using her Instagram handle @officialblessingceo to bully, threaten and harass one Folashade Samuels, a.k.a mama jazz, a younger sister to Late Bimbo Ogbonna.

The defendant was also accused of using her Instagram handle @officialblessingceo, injuring the reputation of mama jazz and her late sister by exposing them to hatred, contempt and ridicule.

The police further accused her of exhibiting a film and video work titled “Sweet Sour” without a censorship certificate and without holding a licence as issued by National Film & Video Censors Board.

Some of the messages allegedly sent by the defendant through her Instagram handle @officialblessingceo to mama jazz include: “Let’s ask mama jazz where her father is??? Their father had the same issue with their mother, Ebele, and ran away for his dear life. IVD’s crime was that he was not brave enough to run….”

The police also maintained that the offences contravened Section 33 of the National Film & Video Censors Board Act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004, and were punishable under the same Act.

 The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Bogoro, after listening to the parties, adjourned the matter till May 30 for a hearing.