A prosecution witness has told a Lagos court how he paid ₦69,150,000 for a five-year lease of a property that was allegedly presented to him as belonging to popular influencer Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, known as Blessing CEO. The witness, Dr Onuoha Okeigwe, gave his testimony on Monday, October 12, 2026, before Justice R. A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged her on June 9, 2026, with two counts of obtaining money by false pretence (lying to get money) and stealing. She pleaded not guilty, and the court has not yet heard her side of the case.
The Witness’s Account: Doubts About Ownership, a Police Visit and Messages Offered as Proof (What the Court Heard)
The property is at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos, which was allegedly leased to Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited for five years. The EFCC says the clinic paid the money in March 2025 after being told the property belonged to her and was free to lease. The witness told the court he later contacted Blessing CEO after concerns arose about who really owned the building. According to him, she dismissed those concerns and insisted she owned it.
He said a man identified as Mr Tom later came to the property with police officers and arrested some workers. He said he paid ₦100,000 to secure their release, and that Blessing CEO told him she did not know Mr Tom. He also identified WhatsApp messages in which she allegedly sent photographs of the building as evidence of ownership. He added that he paid agency, legal and caution fees on top of the lease money. Finally, he alleged that she collected money from another person for the same property. All of this is testimony from the prosecution’s first witness. The defence has the right to cross-examine him and present its own evidence.
It is also worth noting that she faces other matters. She was earlier charged over an alleged ₦36 million fraud involving a Lekki property lease, and she was granted ₦10 million bail in that case on June 9, 2026. She was also arraigned over an alleged ₦13 million fraud involving donations. She is presumed innocent in all of them.
Lagos Courts Have Heard Property Scams Before: Past Cases and How They Ended (Land and Lease Fraud Cases)
Courts in Lagos have dealt with many cases of people accused of taking money for property they did not control. In July 2025, a Lagos High Court in Ikeja sentenced Peter Nwogu to 17 years in prison for a ₦78.7 million property fraud. The EFCC said he placed advertisements to let properties and collected money from people for places he never gave them. The case shows how a believable advertisement can be enough to attract victims.
In October 2024, a court sentenced a man to eight years for a ₦62 million land fraud. The judge held that he had assured the buyer that he was the owner of the land, and ordered him to repay the money. That repayment order matters, because winning a conviction does not always get the victim’s money back.
Another case involved a woman who falsely presented herself as a senior land officer. In June 2020, a Lagos court sentenced her to 30 years for defrauding a client of ₦32.9 million in a Lekki land deal. Punishments have not always been so heavy. In February 2022, a man convicted over forged land documents was given two years in prison with an option of a ₦500,000 fine. Together these cases show a wide range of outcomes, and a trial can take years.
How Buyers Get Caught: Trust, Pressure and Missing Checks (Causes of Property Fraud)
The main weakness is trust without proof. In this case, the witness said photographs sent by WhatsApp were offered as evidence of ownership. Photos only show that a building exists. They do not show who owns it. Tenants and businesses are often in a hurry to secure a good location, and fraudsters rely on that pressure.
Land ownership in Nigeria is also complicated. A guide on Lagos land titles explains that the Lagos State Land Bureau handles title registration and document checks, and that buyers should do a search at its office in Alausa, Ikeja, to confirm who the registered owner is. A legal guide adds that buyers should not rely on photocopies or scanned title papers without a registry search. Many people skip these steps because they are slow, cost money, and seem unnecessary when the seller sounds confident.
Reputation can also lower a buyer’s guard. A well-known person with a large online following can seem more trustworthy than a stranger. We are not saying that applies here. We only note that fame is not proof of ownership.
The Cost of Paying First and Checking Later: Effects on Businesses and the Economy (Consequences of Property Fraud)
For the victim, the first loss is money. A lease worth ₦69 million could fund equipment, staff and patients for a health clinic. Losing it can freeze a business plan. In this case, the witness also described extra costs: workers who were arrested, ₦100,000 paid for their release, and fees for agents, lawyers and caution.
There is also a human cost. Workers who are arrested on a property they believed was safely leased can lose time, income and dignity. Disputes like this can run for years in court.
For the country, repeated property fraud hurts trust. Business owners, including foreign investors, need to know that a signed lease means something. If Lagos, the country’s commercial centre, gains a reputation for risky property deals, honest sellers suffer too. Courts also spend time on avoidable disputes, and money that could build businesses and create jobs is tied up in litigation.
Practical Checks That Can Protect Your Money: Steps for Tenants, Buyers and Government (Possible Solutions)
Anyone leasing or buying property should confirm ownership before paying. That means asking for the survey plan, deed of assignment and title document, then verifying them. A search at the Lagos State Land Bureau can reveal whether the title is genuine, who owns the property, and whether there are disputes or other claims attached. A property lawyer can run these checks. Payments should go to a verifiable account, with proper receipts and a signed agreement.
It also helps to inspect the property and ask who is occupying it. The legal guide advises reviewing existing tenancy agreements, rent receipts and any notices when others are living there. A seller who refuses to allow checks is a warning sign.
Government can help by making land records faster and easier to search, and by publishing clearer guides for ordinary tenants. Courts and prosecutors can also speed up fraud trials so victims do not wait for years. Agents and lawyers should refuse to handle deals where ownership has not been shown.
Verification Is Cheaper Than Regret: Our Closing Reflection (Responsibility, Proof and Fairness)
We want to be clear about what this trial is and is not. It is an ongoing case in which a witness has made serious claims, and the accused denies the charges. Only the court can decide what is true, and we will report what happens, including the defence’s side, when it is heard.
We also believe the case carries a lesson that does not depend on the verdict. A confident voice, a famous name and a few photographs are not proof of ownership. Whoever is selling or leasing, the buyer’s best protection is paper that has been checked at the registry. A few days of checking can save years of court battles.
We urge tenants, business owners and investors to verify before they pay. We also urge the authorities to make that process simpler. We will update this story after the next hearing on October 26, 2026.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
