Controversial social media personality and self-styled relationship therapist, Blessing CEO, has found herself at the centre of a whirlpool of scandals, and has for now swapped social media “fake life” for the sobering reality of Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The influencer, whose real name is Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, revealed on Wednesday that she had been remanded in prison custody following her arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
In a Facebook post shortly after appearing in court, Blessing CEO disclosed that she had spent 26 days in EFCC custody before being transferred to Kirikiri.
“I have now been remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending when I perfect my bail,” she wrote.
The development marks another dramatic chapter in the life of the influencer, whose public profile has often been defined as much by controversy as by her relationship advice.
According to Blessing CEO, some of the allegations against her stem from tenancy-related disputes involving N36 million and N69 million, insisting she never sold houses through her office.
She also referenced a separate controversy involving donations allegedly made after she claimed to be battling cancer, saying she would address the issue after the conclusion of legal proceedings.
But the EFCC’s allegations suggest a far more serious situation.
The anti-graft agency announced that it had arraigned Blessing CEO before Justice Yelim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on a fresh six-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and retaining proceeds allegedly linked to fraudulent activities.
According to the commission, the charges arose from petitions submitted by individuals and groups, including the Nigeria Cancer Society.
The EFCC alleged that members of the public donated money to the influencer after emotional social media posts in which she claimed to be suffering from Stage 4 breast cancer and sought financial assistance for treatment.
The agency further alleged that investigations revealed that documents she presented in support of the claim were falsified.
The allegations have triggered widespread criticism, with many questioning the ethics of soliciting public sympathy through claims that investigators now allege were untrue.
Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court subsequently ordered her remand pending the perfection of her bail conditions and adjourned the case for further proceedings.
Ironically, this is not the first time the influencer has found herself behind the walls of Kirikiri. She acknowledged that she was also remanded at the correctional facility in 2022 over allegations relating to defamation and cyberbullying.
Despite the mounting legal troubles, Blessing CEO maintained an upbeat posture, thanking supporters and asking for prayers.
However, critics argue that the latest allegations cast a dark shadow over the credibility of a public figure who has built a lucrative brand dispensing advice to millions online while repeatedly becoming the subject of headline-grabbing controversies.
For now, the woman who made a career out of dissecting other people’s relationships must contend with a legal battle that could prove far more consequential than any social media drama she has faced before.