The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned Okoro Blessing Nkiruka before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged ₦36 million fraud.

Blessing CEO, a social media personality and self-acclaimed relationship adviser, was arraigned on Friday before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and alleged theft involving ₦36 million.

According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly obtained the money from one Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the pretext of securing a six-bedroom duplex in Lekki, Lagos — a claim prosecutors said she knew to be false.

During proceedings, defence counsel P.I. Nwafor informed the court that the defendant had refunded ₦24 million to the complainant and requested a short adjournment to allow discussions over the outstanding balance.

“We have an application to make. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded ₦24 million out of the ₦36 million.

“We are asking for a short adjournment to resolve the outstanding balance. The nominal complainant agreed that if the balance is paid, they can prevail on the EFCC to drop the case,” the lawyer said.
However, prosecution counsel S.I. Suleiman opposed the request, insisting that the commission was not involved in any private settlement arrangement.

“The complainant here is the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we are here for the arraignment. We urge that the defendant take her plea, as that is the business of the day,” he argued.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Dipeolu held that settlement talks could continue independently but would not stop the arraignment process.

“The defence and the nominal complainant can have discussions even during the pendency of the charge. It does not affect the proceedings before the court. The defendant will take her plea,” the judge ruled.

One of the charges alleged that between July 14 and 17, 2024, Blessing CEO fraudulently obtained ₦36 million from the complainant over a purported property lease in Lekki.
Another count accused her of unlawfully converting the money to personal use, contrary to provisions of the Criminal Code Act.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following her plea, the prosecution asked the court to commence trial and remand her in a correctional facility, while the defence requested that she remain in EFCC custody pending bail arrangements.
Justice Dipeolu subsequently ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter until June 5, 2026, for commencement of trial.

1. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi on Thursday submitted their nomination forms at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Atiku, in a post on his X handle on Thursday, said his presidential bid represents a broader movement aimed at restoring national prosperity and rebuilding Nigeria. Amaechi, on his part, pledged to turn the country around within four years if elected, arguing that competence, experience and performance—not ethnicity or political sentiment—should determine the 2027 contest

2. Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday formally joined the presidential race for 2027 under an alliance involving the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples’ Movement. In his declaration speech delivered at a rally held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, and witnessed by a mammoth crowd, Makinde said he is running under the PDP/APM alliance.

3. The All Progressives Congress, APC, Thursday, shifted the House of Representatives primary scheduled to commence today, Friday, to Saturday, May 16, 2026. A statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka late Thursday, however, said previously announced primary election dates for the Senate, State Houses of Assembly, Governorship and Presidential remain unchanged.

4. A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwarimpa, Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the remand of the founder of the Prophetic Victory Voice of Fire Ministry, Pastor Amos Isah, over the alleged rape of a 14-year-old church member. Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi directed that the 39-year-old cleric be kept in custody pending the submission of his previous bail records.

5. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday disclosed that he almost lost his position last year due to the alleged involvement of actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliot in the political crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly during the speakership tussle involving Mudashiru Obasa.

6. A United States-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has said representatives of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar met with those of US Congressman Riley Moore to discuss election integrity and security challenges in Nigeria. The firm disclosed the meeting in a statement posted on its X handle on Thursday.

7. Fresh tensions have erupted across several states as the ruling All Progressives Congress commences its primaries on Friday (today) ahead of the 2027 general elections, forcing party leaders and key stakeholders loyal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intensify consultations to prevent a full-blown internal crisis. The growing unrest, which has triggered protests, collapsed consensus negotiations, and led to accusations of candidate imposition and reconciliation efforts across multiple states, comes as the APC leadership races to preserve party cohesion before the primaries gather momentum nationwide

8. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday said Nigeria has attracted nearly $20 billion in foreign direct investments this year. Speaking during a panel session at the ongoing Africa CEO Forum, President Tinubu attributed the inflow to reforms aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and investor confidence in the country.

9. Troops of the Joint Task Force, North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have rescued six abducted civilians, neutralised terrorists, and arrested suspected collaborators in ongoing clearance operations across parts of Borno and Yobe States. The military said the operations were conducted under Operation DESERT SANITY and based on credible intelligence targeting identified terrorist movement corridors in the region

10. Members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oluyole Federal Constituency of Oyo State on Thursday staged a protest against the alleged imposition of a candidate ahead of the forthcoming House of Representatives primary election. The aggrieved party members stormed the APC state secretariat in Oke Ado, Ibadan, in large numbers to formally register their dissatisfaction over the development.

 
The general overseer of the Mission House of Divine Land of Joy and Prayer Ministry, Pastor Ajiboye Olayinka,has been jailed for life for raping three minors in his church premises.

On Wednesday, Justice Hammed Gegele of the Kwara high court in Ilorin, convicted Olayinka of multiple offences bordering on unlawful sexual intercourse with minors, illegal abortion, and unlawful possession of firearms.

According to reports, Justice Gegele described the pastor as a “pedophile and philanderer”, who took advantage of religion to manipulate and sexually abuse underage girls in his care.

The trial judge said the pastor repeatedly impregnated some of the victims and forced them to terminate the pregnancies while threatening them not to report.

The judge said the victims were asked to swear oaths of secrecy with the Bible under threats of death should they disclose the incidents to anyone.

The judge recalled how one of the victims told the court how the pastor raped her inside the generator house, while using anointing oil as a lubricant.

The trial judge said the victim told the court that the pastor often woke her up from sleep after vigils to have sexual intercourse with her.

“The convict turned his victims into sex machines, abusing them physically and mentally,” the judge said.

“One of the victims narrated how the defendant took her to a generator house where he forcefully had sexual intercourse with her after applying anointing oil as lubricant.”

Justice Gegele sentenced the defendant to three separate life imprisonment sentences for offences relating to unlawful sexual intercourse with minors.

The trial judge sentenced Olayinka to 14 years imprisonment for carrying out illegal abortions for his victims.

He ordered that the pump action gun recovered from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government.