By SANDRA UMEH

The trial of the self-styled relationship expert, Nkeiruka Okoro, a.k.a. Blessing CEO, over an alleged N36 million fraud, commenced on Friday at a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the defendant in May before Justice Isaac Dipeolu on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining N36 million by false pretence and stealing.

She had however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the last adjourned date, defence counsel, Mr N.I. Nwafor, informed the court that the defendant had refunded part of the money to the complainant as part of a settlement.

However, the prosecutor, Mr Suleiman Suleiman, argued that the Federal Government was the complainant in the case, adding that the prosecution was not privy to any settlement arrangement.

The court subsequently adjourned the case for trial until June 5.

At the resumed hearing on Friday, the prosecutor called the first prosecution witness, Mrs Bufa Okangbe, an investigator with the anti-graft agency, and sought to tender some documents through her.

The documents includeed; a statement of the defendant, copy of a lease agreement, as well as bank documents from Access and Guaranty Trust banks respectively, among others.

Citing provisions such as sections 84, 89 and 90 of the Evidence Act, defence counsel raised objections to tendering of the lease agreement, which he argued, was a photocopy.

He also objected to tendering of the defendant’s statement on the grounds that it was not endorsed in the presence of a legal practitioner.

Defence counsel also objected to tendering of the bank documents, saying it was not a certified copy.

In response, the prosecution also cited relevant provisions of the Evidence Act, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, as well as judicial authorities, arguing that, admissibility of a document was governed by relevance.

In a short ruling, the court over ruled the objection by the defence counsel, and admitted and marked the documents as exhibits respectively.

Leading the witness in evidence, the witness told the court that in her statement, the defendant admitted receiving payments from the nominal complainant, one Ifeyinwa Okoye.

The witness told the court that in her statement, the defendant admitted receiving payments from the nominal complainant, one Ifeyinwa Okoye.

She told the court that in July 2024, the defendant received payments in the sum of N25 million in her Guaranty Trust Bank account and later, an additional N11 million in her Access bank account, in furtherance of a lease.

On the disbursement of the said funds, the witness told the court that on receipt of the money, the defendant made a transfer of N8 million to one Thomas Osogun and Jumoke Osogun, in July 2024.

She told the court that the defendant also made a payment of N9 million, N900,000 and N2 million respectively, to her mother, Mrs Lina Okoro, and also transferred the sum of N10 million to one Kenneth Onuora.

According to her, the defendant also made payment of N1.9 million to one De Beauty City by Lekki.

The witness told the court that findings by the EFCC showed that the complainant paid the defendant the sum of N36 million in tranches of N25 million to her Guaranty Trust bank and N11 million to her Access bank, for a lease property in Lekki.

She told the court that investigations from the land bureau showed that the real owner of the property was one Thomas Osogun.

During cross examination by defence counsel, the witness told the court that the case was investigated by a team of EFCC operatives which she led.

On whether the nominal complainant had made any statement to the commission, the witness answered in the negative.

The also testified that the said Kenneth Onuora to whom the defendant had made transfer to, also made a voluntary statement to the commission.

When asked if the nominal complainant had showed the EFCC any document to evidence that workers were already using the leased property and were paid salaries, she also replied in the negative.

When defence counsel asked the witness if it was the complainant that reported to the anti-graft agency that the defendant chased workers away from the leased property and collected the keys from the security, she replied in the negative.

After a few other questions, defence counsel then prayed the court for an adjournment, to enable him get other documents that were material to his case.

The court consequently, adjourned the case until June 22, for continuation of cross examination by 12 noon.

Meanwhile the court also reserved ruling on the defendant’s bail application until June 9.

According to one of the charges, Blessing CEO allegedly obtained N36 million from Mrs Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye, between July 14 and July 17, 2024, under the pretence of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex located at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu St. off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos.

The EFCC alleged that the representation was false and constituted an offence under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Another count accused the defendant of fraudulently converting the sum to her personal use, contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Code Act. (NAN)