Social media influencer, Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO has regained her freedom following her detention over alleged libel and defamation.
Blessing CEO was arrested by the police on Thursday, March 30, 2023.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria recently granted bail to Okoro for alleged cyber-bullying but SaharaReporters learnt she regained her freedom today (Thursday).
Her lawyer, Prince I. Nwafuru, confirmed that she had been released after spending three weeks in detention.
The Nigeria Police Force had arraigned Okoro before Justice Yelim Bogoro of the Federal High Court on six counts bordering on alleged cyber-bullying, libel and for exhibiting uncensored movies.
On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, counsel for Blessing CEO filed a bail application before Justice Tijjani Ringim of the Federal High Court in Lagos on her behalf. SaharaReporters observed that the police did not oppose the bail application.
Regarding bail conditions, the police urged the court to use its discretion.
The judge granted Blessing CEO bail in absence of opposition.
She was admitted to N10 million bail each with two sureties in like sum.
Police prosecutor, Rotshang Faith Dimka, in a piece of proof information filed before the court, had stated that Okoro Blessing of Lekki, Lagos, on October 16, 2022, “intentionally sent messages using her Instagram handle @officialblessingceo to bully, threaten and harass one Folashade Samuels, a.k.a Mamajazz, a younger sister to the late Bimbo Ogbonna.”
The police also accused the blogger of using her Instagram handle @officialblessingceo, to harm the reputation of Folashade Samuels and the late Bimbo Ogbonna, by exposing them to hatred, contempt and ridicule.
Accusing her also of exhibiting a film and video work titled “Sweet Sour” without a censorship certificate and without holding a licence as issued by National Film & Video Censors Board (NFVCB).
The prosecutor further identified some of the messages the blogger sent as including: “Let’s ask Mamajazz where her father is??? Their father had exactly the same issue with their mother Ebele and he ran away for us (sic) dear life. IVD’s crime was that he was not man enough to run…”
“The family of late Bimbo is after IVD’’s properties and life. Especially her elder sister Mamajazz. Bimbo and IVD are well-known people in Lagos and it’s not a hidden fact that even in their estate that Bimbo is violent. Everybody knows how she breaks a bottle on her husband’s head on a daily .. Bimbo killed herself and has always wanted to kill herself right from childhood. Evidence loading. All the voice notes and evidence will be on my YouTube and Facebook. Subscribe,” she also wrote.
“I will ask Mamajazz, the late Bimbo’s sister few questions…where (sic) you in (sic) talking terms with your sister before (she) died? Are you owing your late sister 18 million? Did she block you before her death? Do you even like your sisters’ children?? Answers this question because | will slam the internet with raw facts and evidence.
“I am stepping into the case as the official relationship therapist of IVD… Will drop all the evidence that IVD did not kill his wife or even hurt her. The late Bimbo was the violent person and suicidal victim….” the police further cited.
The police had told the court that the offence the defendant/accused committed contravenes Section 24 (2)(a)(1) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
They also reportedly contravene Section 33 of the NFVCB Act, 2004.
Okoro had pleaded not guilty.
Following her no-guilty plea, Justice Bogoro ordered she should be remanded at Nigerian Correctional Services Custodial Centre till May 30 for the hearing of her bail application.
The late Bimbo, the wife of a Lagos celebrity auto-dealer, Ikechukwu Ogbonna, popularly known as IVD, died last year in a fire incident at their residence in Lekki, it was reported.
According to the report, Ogbonna, 37, is on trial at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja in connection with her death.
The defendant was arraigned on one count of involuntary manslaughter in suit No LD/21055C/23 preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.
