Nigerian social media personality and relationship therapist, Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has admitted to falsely claiming she had breast cancer to attract financial donations from members of the public.
Blessing made the shocking revelation during an interview with social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), in which she disclosed that she deliberately misrepresented her medical condition to solicit financial assistance.
The influencer explained that a medical examination had initially revealed a lump in her breast, but subsequent findings showed that it was not cancerous.
However, she admitted that she knowingly presented the condition as cancer to attract sympathy and financial support from Nigerians.
Describing her actions as an “emotional game”, Blessing said she initially created the impression that she was considering selling her car and other personal belongings to raise money.
According to her, members of the public subsequently encouraged her to share her bank details so they could contribute towards her supposed treatment.
She disclosed that the donations eventually amounted to about ₦13 million before contributions stopped following questions raised by VeryDarkMan about the authenticity of her diagnosis.
Blessing said the donations dried up after the social media activist publicly challenged her claims and demanded evidence of her alleged cancer diagnosis.
The admission comes months after the influencer sparked widespread controversy in March 2026 when she announced that she was battling stage-four breast cancer and appealed to Nigerians for financial assistance.
Her claims attracted considerable public attention, with several Nigerians expressing sympathy and contributing money towards her supposed medical treatment.
The controversy later drew the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which arraigned her before the Federal High Court in Lagos in June 2026 over an alleged ₦13 million cancer donation fraud.
The commission accused her of obtaining money by false pretence and retaining proceeds allegedly linked to an unlawful activity. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Her latest confession has reignited public outrage, particularly among Nigerians who contributed financially towards her purported treatment.
The development has also renewed questions about accountability in online fundraising and the growing use of social media platforms to solicit financial assistance from unsuspecting members of the public.
The case remains a subject of significant public interest, with renewed calls for transparency and accountability over donations received during the controversial fundraising campaign.
