A prosecution witness has told a Lagos Special Offences Court that social media influencer Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, allegedly collected N69.15 million from him for a five-year lease of a property she was accused of falsely claiming to own.

The witness, Onuoha Okeigwe, testified on Monday before Justice R. A. Oshodi at the continuation of Blessing CEO’s trial over alleged obtaining of money by false pretence and stealing.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the influencer on June 9, 2026, on a two-count charge involving N69,150,000. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly induced Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited to pay the money on March 21, 2025, by representing that a property at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos, belonged to her and was available for a five-year lease.

Testifying before the court, Okeigwe said he contacted the defendant after encountering problems relating to the property.

He alleged that she dismissed his concerns and maintained that she was the rightful owner.

The witness further told the court that a man identified as Tom later arrived at the property with police officers and arrested some of the clinic’s workers.

He said he paid N100,000 to secure their release.

“I informed the defendant, and she claimed she did not know Mr. Tom. I paid N100,000 to secure the release of my workers. Blessing still maintained that she did not know Mr. Tom and that she was the owner of the property,” he told the court.

Okeigwe also identified WhatsApp messages in which the defendant allegedly sent him photographs of the building as evidence of her ownership.

He said he paid additional charges, including agency, legal and caution fees.

The witness maintained that the alleged misrepresentation centred on the defendant’s claim of ownership, despite collecting the lease payment.

He further alleged that she collected money from him and another person for the same property.

The charges against Blessing CEO are brought under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.

Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until October 26, 2026, for continuation of the trial.