By Ayomide Otitoju
The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has fixed June 9, 2026, to rule on the bail application filed by self-styled relationship therapist, Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, who is standing trial over an alleged ₦36 million property fraud.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the defendant, P.I. Nwafuru, urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms, relying on a six-paragraph affidavit and supporting exhibits attached to the application dated May 15, 2026.
However, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Suleiman Suleiman, opposed the application, citing a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit deposed to by the Commission’s investigating officer, Bufa Regina Okangbe.
The prosecution argued that the defendant had at some point failed to honour invitations extended by the EFCC during the investigation and urged the court to reject the bail request in favour of an accelerated trial.
After hearing submissions from both parties, Justice Dipeolu reserved ruling on the application until June 9.
Earlier in the proceedings, the prosecution opened its case with the testimony of its first witness, EFCC investigator Bufa Regina Okangbe, who detailed how the Commission allegedly uncovered evidence linking the defendant to the fraud.
According to the witness, investigations were launched following a petition alleging that the defendant collected ₦36 million from a complainant for a property she did not own. Okangbe said a Bank Verification Number (BVN) search revealed multiple bank accounts linked to the defendant, prompting requests for financial records from several banks and property ownership verification from the Lagos State Land Bureau.
The witness further testified that the EFCC also sought information from the Corporate Affairs Commission regarding the defendant’s company, Break or Makeup Limited.
Okangbe told the court that the Lagos State Land Bureau confirmed that the disputed property was owned by Tunbosun Osobu and not the defendant. She added that Osobu later appeared before the Commission and confirmed that he had leased the property to the defendant for a period that expired in 2023 before being renewed in 2025.
The prosecution tendered several documents, including the petition, statements allegedly made by the defendant, tenancy documents, and bank records belonging to both the complainant and the defendant.
The defence objected to the admissibility of the defendant’s statements, arguing that there was no proof of a legal practitioner’s presence during the recording process and that no video recording had been produced.
Justice Dipeolu, however, overruled the objections and admitted the documents into evidence, holding that Section 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act permits a suspect’s statement to be taken in the presence of a legal practitioner or any other person chosen by the suspect.
Continuing her testimony, the witness stated that the complainant transferred a total of ₦36 million to the defendant through company accounts, including ₦25 million paid into a GTBank account and ₦11 million into an Access Bank account for the lease of a six-bedroom duplex located at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos.
She further told the court that analysis of the defendant’s accounts showed subsequent transfers to several individuals, including members of the Osobu family, the defendant’s mother, and another associate.
Under cross-examination, the witness said the Federal Republic of Nigeria was not a party to any settlement discussions between the defendant and the complainant and was unaware of any alleged refund of ₦24 million claimed by the defence.
The court also heard that the complainant had commenced renovation work on the property before allegedly being evicted by its rightful owner.
Justice Dipeolu subsequently adjourned the matter until June 22, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
The EFCC is prosecuting Okoro on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing. The Commission alleges that she fraudulently obtained ₦36 million from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, under the pretext of leasing a six-bedroom duplex in Lekki, Lagos, a representation it claims she knew to be false.
