A Nigerian lawyer has formally petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over relationship coach Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, urging authorities to investigate allegations that she raised funds under false pretences. Olakiitan Bolu Agbanje, whose own daughter is currently battling cancer, made the call in a detailed interview with TVC News, describing the influencer’s actions as a serious form of fraud that exploits public sympathy.
The lawyer did not hide her personal stake in the matter. She recounted the emotional toll of her daughter’s diagnosis and the extensive research and steps required to manage the condition.
“I know how I felt when my daughter had cancer. I almost ran mad, and I know the research that went into it and what steps we took.”
Agbanje questioned whether Blessing CEO was genuinely ill or simply seeking financial gain.
“If it wasn’t for the cause it was meant, we need to know. If, in fact, this person is even sick. This person has the money to take care of themselves, yet they go to the public to ask for funds; that’s a form of fraud.”
The petition, also copied to the Lagos Directorate of the EFCC, calls for a thorough investigation into how the money was solicited and used. It comes after Blessing CEO’s public announcement on March 25, in which she claimed to have been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. In emotional videos, she shaved her head and appealed for support toward treatment costs. Donations reportedly reached at least N13 million before doubts surfaced.
Subsequent developments revealed that the histology report she presented had been altered from an original document issued in May 2025 to another patient, Mbara Deborah. The Delta State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association confirmed the forgery, stating that the facility never issued any report to Blessing CEO. The association urged relevant authorities to act to protect the public from being taken advantage of.
Blessing CEO later appeared in interviews, including sessions with Daddy Freeze and Egungun of Lagos, where she admitted to exaggerating details and clarified that she did not know the exact stage of any diagnosis. She maintained she relied on information from a doctor but stood by her decision to seek public support, stating she would not apologise for the funds received. Shortly after mounting criticism, she deactivated her Instagram account. Her partner, IVD, also took his page offline around the same time.
The lawyer’s intervention has intensified calls for accountability in a case that has already divided public opinion. Supporters of Blessing CEO argue that her health status should remain private, while critics insist that raising large sums based on unverified claims crosses into criminal territory when medical evidence is disputed.
As the EFCC has yet to issue any official response, the petition adds another layer to the ongoing controversy. Agbanje’s decision to speak out, driven by her family’s real-life experience with cancer, underscores the emotional weight many attach to medical appeals and the need for transparency when public donations are involved. The matter remains under close watch as Nigerians await further developments from the anti-graft agency.