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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has revealed that a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has reserved a ruling on the bail application filed by social media influencer and relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO, in her ongoing N36 million fraud trial.

In a statement shared on the commission’s official X handle on Friday, the statement noted that the defendant is facing a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

In the statement, the Commission said: “Court reserves ruling on Blessing CEO’s bail application. 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.”

The EFCC said she is being prosecuted by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 over allegations that she obtained N36 million from one Mrs Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, under the pretence of leasing a six-bedroom duplex in Lekki, Lagos.

During earlier proceedings in the matter, the defence counsel told the court that N24 million had already been refunded and urged time to resolve the outstanding balance. However, the EFCC opposed any private settlement, insisting the criminal trial must proceed.

Justice D.I. Dipeolu had earlier ruled that the proceedings could not be halted by negotiations between the parties, ordering that the defendant remain in custody pending further hearing of the case.

The matter has now been adjourned till June 9, 2026, for ruling on the bail application.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a staff member of the University of Benin over alleged salary duplication fraud of ₦3.2m alongside other defendants in separate fraud cases involving N650 million money laundering and N500,000 false pretence across Edo and Borno states.

In a statement shared on its official X handle on Thursday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said:

In Benin, the EFCC’s Zonal Directorate brought Segun Bode Adedeji before Justice E. G. Adekanmbi of the Edo State High Court on a four-count charge “bordering on fraudulent practice to the tune of N3,285,396 (Three Million, Two Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety-Six Naira) only.”

The commission said intelligence gathered by its operatives indicated that the defendant, while serving as a staff of the University of Benin, was allegedly receiving salaries from two public institutions simultaneously.

“Segun Bode Adedeji… was also drawing salaries from the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Benin City, at the same time,” the EFCC said.

In another case in Maiduguri, the EFCC arraigned Abubakar Muhammad before Justices Shehu Umaru Adamu of the Federal High Court and Amina Mustapha Ibrahim of the Borno State High Court over alleged money laundering and criminal conversion involving N650 million.

The anti-graft agency said the defendant, between 2021 and 2026, allegedly converted funds through multiple bank accounts, under the guise of a mining investment scheme.

“Directly converts the aggregate sum of N650,000,000.00 (Six Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) via your account numbers; 2270202119, 0003515514 and 5072107609 domiciled with United Bank for Africa Plc, Taj Bank and Moniepoint Microfinance Bank,” part of the charge read.

The EFCC said the defendant pleaded not guilty, while prosecution counsel Mukhtar Ali Ahmed urged the court to fix a trial date and sought remand in its custody. However, defence counsel B.G. Zanna applied for bail.

Justice Ibrahim granted bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties, one of whom must own property worth N400 million, and adjourned the matter to June 11 and 15, 2026, for hearing.

In a separate Maiduguri case, the EFCC also arraigned Bilal Muhammad, Chief Executive Officer of GDF Home Sales Enterprises Ltd, before Justice Amina Mustapha Ibrahim over an alleged obtaining by false pretence involving N500,000.

The agency said the defendant allegedly obtained the money from Adamu Abubakar under the claim that it was meant for the purchase of a tricycle, a representation it said was false.

“That you, Bilal Muhammad, whilst being the Chief Executive Officer of GDF Home Sales Enterprises Ltd… obtained the sum of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from Adamu Abubakar… under the false pretence that same is meant for the purchase of a Tricycle (aka Keke Napep), a representation which you knew to be false,” the charge stated.

The defendant pleaded not guilty. Prosecuting counsel A.D. Abdulmalik urged the court to fix a trial date and requested remand in a correctional facility. The court adjourned the matter to June 22, 2026 and ordered his remand at the Maiduguri Maximum Correctional Facility.

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The presidency has confirmed that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a man identified as Ifechukwu Dennis for originating a fake voice that he passed on to members of the public as the voice of President Bola Tinubu.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who confirmed the development to Naija News in a statement on Thursday, said Dennis was arrested by the crack team of the Inspector General of Police.

Onanuga also disclosed that the suspect was arrested in Benin.

According to him, the Police will soon issue an official statement on the development.

“The IGP crack team has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis who originated the fake voice that he passed on to his gullible targets as President Tinubu’s voice. Dennis was arrested in Benin. The police will issue an official statement.” Onanuga wrote on his 𝕏 Account.

The presidential spokesperson added that another man who made a fake and reckless post about the security situation in Abuja has also been arrested by the Police.

Onanuga submitted that the arrests are clear signals that reckless users of social media will face the consequences of their actions.

“The police have also arrested this Nigerian who made an alarming post about Abuja’s security, spreading fear among citizens. By arresting him, the police have sent the clear message that reckless users of the social media won’t go scot-free,” he wrote.

Naijapunchnews recalls that the Presidency had last week accused social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), of circulating an alleged fake audio purportedly involving President Tinubu.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the call in a post on 𝕏 and called for the prosecution of the social media activist.

Onanuga accused VDM of spreading false content on social media. The presidential aide described the circulation of the audio as an abuse of social media.

However, it was subsequently discovered that the fake audio did not originate from VDM.