A prosecution witness, Dr Onuoha Okeigwe, on Monday told a Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja that social media influencer Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, allegedly misrepresented herself as the owner of a property for which he paid N69.15m.
Okeigwe made the allegation while being cross-examined by defence counsel during the continuation of Blessing CEO’s trial before Justice Rahman Oshodi.
The witness, who testified as the prosecution’s first witness, said he relied on the defendant’s representations, made through WhatsApp conversations and physical interactions, before paying for the property.
Responding to questions about the transaction documents, Okeigwe said he was a doctor of chiropractic and not a lawyer, adding that he did not understand legal terminology.
He, however, insisted that he had presented evidence to support his allegation that the defendant falsely claimed ownership of the property.
Okeigwe also told the court that the communications between them took place both before and after the payment.
“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 said.
The witness disclosed that he had instituted a separate civil suit against the defendant to recover money spent on renovating the property.
He said he had spent more than N100m renovating it to meet the requirements of the medical facility he intended to establish there.
Explaining the distinction between the two cases, Okeigwe said the criminal proceedings concerned the N69.15m allegedly paid for the property, while the civil suit sought recovery of the renovation expenses and damages.
When asked whether the defendant had told him through WhatsApp messages that she owned the property, the witness said the alleged representations went beyond their online conversations.
He said he also relied on Corporate Affairs Commission documents and other materials he had submitted to the court in support of his claim.
Okeigwe disagreed with the defence counsel’s suggestion that Exhibit C was the only evidence he had tendered, insisting that he had presented other evidence.
Blessing CEO was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on June 9, 2026, on a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing involving N69,150,000.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until January 12, 2027, for the prosecution to call additional witnesses.