Social media personality Blessing Okoro, widely known as Blessing CEO, has admitted to deliberately fabricating a breast cancer diagnosis to solicit financial donations. The confession occurred during an interview with activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, shared on Thursday. Okoro stated the false claim responded to pressure from an EFCC dispute involving Dr Onuoha Okeigwe.
According to Premium Times, a check-up revealed a lump that was not cancerous. She admitted telling the media the lump was malignant to attract support. "I played an emotional game," she said, as reported by Punch. She clarified she did not directly ask for money but created a narrative leading to public offers.
The campaign began when Okoro hinted at selling assets. Fans encouraged her to share bank details, and contributions flowed. However, donations ceased after VeryDarkMan questioned the claim and demanded evidence. Okoro told AllAfrica the influx stopped immediately after this video was posted. She acknowledged she was not proud of her actions, stating the pressure led her to pull "the cancer" stunt to avoid embarrassment.
The controversy erupted in March when Okoro posted videos claiming a stage-four diagnosis. Deborah Mbara accused her of manipulating a medical report. The Delta State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association disowned a histology report circulated by Okoro, stating it belonged to another patient. The EFCC arrested Okoro and arraigned her on six counts, including obtaining money by false pretence, involving N13 million raised.
Okoro was remanded to Kirikiri Correctional Centre but released after months in detention. She pleaded not guilty to the charges, which remain subject to determination by the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos. When contacted for comment on the admission, Okoro declined to discuss the matter further. She told Saturday Beats she was still mourning the death of her son. "I can’t talk about it. I’m still mourning," she said, as reported by Punch.