The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on Friday, admitted into evidence the statement of self-styled relationship expert, Nkeiruka Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, as well as bank records and a lease agreement, in her ongoing trial over alleged N36 million fraud.

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

Okoro pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the last adjourned date, defence counsel Mr N.I Nwafor, had informed the court that the defendant already refunded part of the money to the complainant.

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

The court had then adjourned the case for trial to commence.

At the resumption of trial on Friday, the prosecutor called its first witness Mrs Bufa Okangbe, an investigator with the anti graft agency, and had sort to tender some documents through the witness.

The documents included: a statement of the defendant, copy of a lease agreement as well as bank documents from Access bank, Guaranty Trust bank, 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 grounds that it was not endorsed in the presence of a legal practitioner.

Defence counsel also objected to tendering of the bank documents on grounds of certification.

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 is governed by relevance.

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

Leading the witness in evidence, the prosecutor then asked her to identify the first exhibit and she said it was the statement of the defendant.

The witness told the court that in her statement, the defendant admitted receiving payments from the nominal complainant, one Mrs 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 disbursement of the said funds the witness told the court that on receipt of the money, the defendant made a transfer of eight million naira to one Mr Thomas Osogun and Mrs Jumoke Osogun in July 2024.

She told the court that the defendant also made a payment of nine million naira, N900,000, and two million naira respectively to her mother Mrs Lina Okoro, and also transfered 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 GT 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 is 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 said No.

She 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 replied No.

When defence asked the witness if it was the complainant that reported to the anti-graft agency that the defendant chased workers away from the lessed property and collected the keys from the security, she replied No.

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 untill June 9.

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

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.

Source: The Nation News