By Ojima-ojo Abubaker
A high court in Lagos has adjourned the bail application of social media influencer Blessing CEO, who is facing trial over alleged N36 million fraud, to June 9.
Blessing, born Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, was remanded in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody over a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and theft.
One of the charges alleges that between July 14 and 17, 2024, she obtained N36 million from the complainant under the false claim of leasing a six-bedroom duplex in the Lekki area of Lagos.
She is also accused of converting the same sum, allegedly belonging to Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye, the petitioner, for personal use.
She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resumed proceedings on Friday, P.I Nwafuru, counsel to Blessing, urged the court to grant his client bail.
S.I. Suleiman, prosecution counsel, opposed the application, saying the EFCC had filed a detailed counter-affidavit through the investigating officer to challenge the bail request.
He said the prosecution is relying on the affidavit and its attached exhibits as evidence before the court.
He also told the court that the defendant allegedly stopped honouring EFCC invitations during investigations and urged the court to refuse bail and instead order an accelerated hearing of the case.
“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,” Suleiman said.
“We urge Your Lordship not to accede to the request of the defence and instead order an accelerated hearing of the matter.”
Suleiman further presented the petition, Blessing’s statements, tenancy records, and both the complainant’s and her bank statements as evidence.
However, Nwafuru opposed the admission of Blessing statements as evidence, arguing that there was no proof a lawyer was present when the statements were recorded and that no video of the process was presented in court.
Suleiman argued that the law does not make a lawyer’s presence compulsory, adding that the statements and bank documents were properly obtained and supported with the required certificates.
D.I Dipeolu, the presiding judge, dismissed the objections and admitted the statements and documents as evidence.
“Section 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) clearly provides that a suspect’s statement may be taken in the presence of a legal practitioner of his or her choice, a representative of the Legal Aid Council, a representative of a civil society organisation, or any other person chosen by the suspect,” the judge stated.
Bufa Regina Okangbe, the prosecution witness who is also EFCC investigator, told the court that Blessing admitted in statements made in the presence of her lawyer and husband that Okoye paid her N30 million.
Okangbe also said findings from the Lagos state land bureau showed that the disputed property did not belong to the defendant but to Tunbosun Osobu, who allegedly confirmed leasing the property to her for three years before renewing it in 2025.
She further told the court that Okoye submitted the lease agreement and tenancy acquisition form, while the prosecution also presented documents including the petition, the defendant’s statements, and bank records as evidence.
Okangbe said analysis of the Blessing’s accounts showed that the money was allegedly transferred to several individuals, including Beauty City by Lekki, her mother and Kenneth Emeka Onuora, while adding that the Okoye had already started renovating the property before allegedly being ejected by the owner.
The case has been adjourned, with ruling on the bail application set for June 9 and continuation of trial for June 22.
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