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A prosecution witness, Dr Onuoha Okeigwe, Monday, told the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, that he paid N69.15 million for a property allegedly represented to him as belonging to social media influencer, Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO.
Okeigwe, who testified as Prosecution Witness One (PW1), stated this while being cross-examined by defence counsel during the continuation of Blessing CEO’s trial before Justice R.A. Oshodi.
The witness, a doctor of chiropractic (a healthcare practice focused on diagnosing and treating spine, joint and muscle problems), told the court that he was not a lawyer and did not understand legal terminology, but insisted that the defendant represented herself as the owner of the property through WhatsApp conversations and physical interactions.
He said the representations were made both before and after he paid for the property, adding that he also relied on Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) documents and other materials presented before the court.
“Blessing presented herself, claiming to be the owner of the property, and falsely collected money from me. She impersonated the owner of the property,” he told the court.
Okeigwe further stated that he had instituted a civil suit against the defendant to recover his money, adding that he spent over N100 million renovating the property to meet the standard required for the medical facility he intended to establish.
He added that while the criminal case concerns the N69.15 million allegedly paid to purchase the property, the civil suit sought recovery of the renovation expenses and damages.
During cross-examination, the witness said he sent the lease agreement to his lawyer but added that the lawyer was not involved in the negotiations, adding that he was a doctor, not a lawyer.
When asked whether Exhibit C was the only evidence he had presented, the witness disagreed, insisting that he had submitted other evidence supporting his claim.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until January 12, 2027, for the prosecution to call further witnesses.
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