Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, June 5, 2026, reserved ruling until June 9, 2026, on the bail application filed by social media influencer and relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO.
Blessing is standing trial on a two-count charge filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N36 million.
However, defence counsel P.I. Nwafuru objected to the admissibility of the defendant’s statements, arguing that there was no endorsement indicating the presence of a legal practitioner during the recording of the statements. He also contended that no video recording of the statement-taking process had been produced before the court.
In response, Suleiman argued that the absence of a legal practitioner did not render an extra-judicial statement inadmissible.
“The law only requires the presence of a legal practitioner or any person chosen by the defendant. The statements are very key to this matter, and we urge My Lord to admit them in evidence,” he submitted.
On the issue of the bank statements, Suleiman maintained that all statements of account were accompanied by certificates of identification in compliance with Section 84 of the Evidence Act.
“The witness through whom the statements of account are being tendered is the investigating officer in this case, and the law recognises such authority as an exception to the hearsay rule,” he added.
In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu overruled the objections and admitted the documents into evidence as exhibits.
The judge held that: “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.”
Continuing her testimony, Okangbe stated that the petitioner, through the company account, paid a total sum of N36 million to the defendant.
According to her, N25 million was transferred into the defendant’s GTBank account, while an additional N11 million was paid into her Access Bank account for the lease of a property located at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos.
She further testified that an analysis of the defendant’s bank accounts revealed several subsequent transfers, including N8 million to Mr. and Mrs. Osobu, N1.9 million to Beauty City by Lekki, N11 million to Lina Uzoma Okoro, the defendant’s mother, and N15 million to Kenneth Emeka Onuora.
Under cross-examination, the witness stated that the Federal Republic of Nigeria, being the petitioner in the criminal proceedings, was not privy to any settlement arrangement allegedly entered into between the defendant and the petitioner.
She also informed the court that she was unaware of any attempt by the defendant to refund N24 million to the petitioner, as earlier claimed by the defence.
According to the witness, the petitioner had already commenced renovation work on the property before the owner, Mr. Tunbosun Osobu, allegedly appeared and ejected them from the premises.
Justice Dipeolu subsequently adjourned the matter until June 9, 2026 for ruling on bail application and June 22, 2026, for continuation of trial.
