A social media influencer, Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO has regained her freedom after spending three weeks in detention.
Blessing CEO was arrested by the police on Thursday, March 30, 2023, over alleged libel and defamation.
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.
Regarding bail conditions, the police urged the court to use its discretion.
The judge granted Blessing CEO bail in absence of opposition.
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 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.
The police had told the court that the offense 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.