Blessing CEO admits falsely claiming she had cancer to attract donations, saying she raised ₦13m and used ₦5m towards an outstanding debt
Nigerian social media personality and relationship coach, Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has admitted falsely claiming she had cancer to attract financial donations, disclosing that she raised ₦13m from members of the public.
Blessing made the admission during an interview with social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), in which she explained how she misrepresented a medical finding to solicit financial assistance.
She said a medical examination had revealed a lump in her breast, but the lump was not cancerous. Despite knowing this, she deliberately told the public that she had cancer to attract sympathy and donations.
“Honestly, I do not have cancer. The truth is, I had gone for check-up a few months ago, and they found a lump on my breast, but it was not cancerous. So, I took advantage of that, came to the media, cried for help and said that the lump was cancerous. I played an emotional game,” she said.
The influencer explained that she initially gave the impression that she intended to sell some of her personal belongings, including her car and house, to raise money.
However, she said members of the public encouraged her to share her bank details so they could contribute towards her supposed treatment.
According to her, donations began coming in from supporters but stopped after VDM challenged her claims and demanded evidence of her cancer diagnosis.
Blessing also claimed that pressure over an outstanding financial obligation to a man identified as Mr Onouha contributed to her decision to stage the cancer appeal.
She said she was concerned about the possibility of public embarrassment over the debt and used the fundraising scheme as a way to raise money.
The social media personality disclosed that she received a total of ₦13m in donations and used ₦5m to prepare a bank draft for Onouha.
Her latest admission contradicts her earlier public statements about her health.
In April 2026, she maintained that although an initial examination had found the breast lump to be non-cancerous, a subsequent biopsy had reportedly indicated cancer.
At the time, she also confirmed receiving ₦13m in donations but denied claims that she had raised ₦100m.
The controversy had attracted the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following complaints over the fundraising campaign and allegations surrounding medical documents used to support her cancer claims.
In June 2026, the EFCC arraigned Blessing CEO before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged ₦13m cancer donation fraud.
The commission accused her of obtaining money by false pretence and retaining proceeds allegedly linked to the fundraising campaign.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court ordered her remand pending the fulfilment of her bail conditions. The allegations before the court remain subject to judicial determination.
Her latest interview has renewed public scrutiny of the donations, particularly because she has now acknowledged deliberately presenting a non-cancerous medical finding as cancer to obtain financial assistance.
The development has also reignited calls for accountability from donors and members of the public who contributed to the fundraising appeal.
