The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained why influencer Blessing CEO has not been arrested or investigated amid the ongoing controversy surrounding her cancer fundraising claims, citing the absence of a formal petition.
The matter began in January when Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and appealed to the public for financial assistance to cover her surgery. The announcement was met with skepticism, with critics alleging that she fabricated the illness to solicit money.
Blessing later stated that she had sought public support as a precautionary measure and that her surgery had been postponed due to the online controversy. She also defended her refusal to publicly release her medical records, citing privacy regulations. The influencer clarified that she had received N13 million in donations, not the widely circulated N100 million, describing previous claims of stage 4 cancer as a “miscommunication.”
Despite her explanations, criticism intensified when Alafaa Kariboye-Igbo, CEO of Karib Oil and Gas Limited, claimed he transferred N20 million to Blessing CEO and demanded a refund.
Reacting to the matter on Monday, a source within the EFCC told TheCable that no formal petition has been filed against Blessing CEO. “Everybody is saying EFCC should arrest Blessing CEO. But nobody has placed a petition before the EFCC CEO. As an anti-corruption agency, we cannot work on social media agitation, social media frenzy, without a credible petition that will authorise us to work on it,” the source said.
The official emphasized that a petitioner is necessary to serve as a witness if the case proceeds to court. “If we go by social media agitation and there is a need to go to court, who is going to serve as a witness? Who are we going to say has petitioned the commission?” he added.
The EFCC source advised that any aggrieved person should present evidence, including receipts of donations, to allow the agency to act within the law. “Everybody knows that if somebody obtains anything by false pretence, they are liable to EFCC investigation if it can be established. This is the receipt of the money she collected. They should come forward with receipts and evidence,” the official said
