Deborah Mbara, the woman whose cancer medical report was allegedly doctored by social media influencer Blessing CEO, has broken her silence, revealing how the influencer allegedly obtained her medical document under the pretense of wanting to make comparisons.
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Mbara’s response follows a revelation by the Nigerian Medical Association, Delta State chapter, that the medical document presented by Blessing CEO to support her claim of stage 4 breast cancer actually belonged to another patient.
The association said the document was a “manipulated version” of Mbara’s report, allegedly altered by Blessing to support her own cancer diagnosis.
The controversy began in late March 2026 when Blessing CEO real name Blessing Okoro Nkiruka announced in emotional videos that she had been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.
She described discovering a lump in her left breast in July 2025, claiming an initial biopsy came back non-cancerous, but a follow-up biopsy in late January 2026 allegedly showed it had become cancerous and had spread.
She appeared tearful, said she was scared her “days felt numbered,” mentioned possible mastectomy, and appealed for prayers and financial support for urgent treatment. She also shared what she claimed were her medical test results in a live video.
The appeal sparked widespread sympathy, with many Nigerians donating money. She later admitted raising about ₦13 million, not the rumoured ₦100 million-plus. She reportedly sold or auctioned some properties as well.
The report Blessing CEO presented was allegedly issued by Xinus Medical Diagnostics and signed by O.A. Odigwe, a consultant pathologist.
However, Xinus Medical Diagnostics countered Blessing’s claim, accusing her of altering the report. The diagnostics centre noted that the original document had been issued to Mbara in May 2025.
The Delta State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association confirmed that the document being circulated was fake and belonged to another patient, not Blessing CEO.
In a video shared on her Instagram page on Tuesday, Mbara, a makeup artist and cancer survivor from Asaba, Delta State, explained how Blessing CEO allegedly obtained her medical report.
“Sometime last year, Blessing CEO was in Asaba, and I was her makeup artist,” Mbara said.
“Fast forward to last week, when she started crying that she had cancer and had sold off her properties. My friend reached out to her to check up on her. We even got a doctor on the call to help us educate her and encourage her. I was telling her how God saw me through my own journey and the scars.”
“Then she said, ‘Zazi, can you please help me send the report of when you were diagnosed so I could compare it with the one my doctor gave me?’ And I said, ‘OK, no problem.’ Only for me to see it on the internet on Friday that it was my result she doctored to back up the nonsense and the money people were donating to her.”
Mbara disclosed that despite Blessing CEO publicly claiming she did not know her and had never spoken to any of her family members, the influencer had actually visited Asaba to apologise in person.
“She said she doesn’t know me and has never spoken to any of my family,” Mbara said.
“But she was in Asaba on Monday to beg my husband and my family. My husband told her to tender a public apology on social media and confess how everything happened.”
Mbara expressed disappointment at how her genuine health struggles were allegedly misused.
“I thought I was helping someone in need, not knowing she had a different agenda. This is evil,” she stated.
“I was traumatised by her action.”
The beauty entrepreneur called on the public to respect the truth and stop spreading false narratives.
The story quickly became controversial after skeptics demanded proof, noting inconsistencies in her presentation — including no clear signs of advanced cancer treatment like chemotherapy, which she confirmed she had not started.
In subsequent interviews, including with influencer Egungun of Lagos and on Arise News, Blessing CEO:
- Denied having stage 4 cancer, calling it a “miscommunication” from doctors
- Insisted she still had cancer based on the later biopsy but was awaiting further staging/tests
- Vowed she owed no apology, as people donated “out of love”
- Maintained the lump story but clarified she had not begun aggressive treatment like chemotherapy
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has responded to the ongoing controversy, stating that no formal petition has been filed against Blessing CEO despite widespread outrage.
There have been mentions of potential lawsuits, petitions including one from activist VeryDarkMan and calls for EFCC involvement, though outcomes remain unclear.
Under Nigerian law, the alleged conduct could fall under several criminal offences if proven:
Forgery of a medical document: Altering someone else’s medical report and presenting it as genuine is generally treated as forgery under the Criminal Code, with potentially severe penalties.
Uttering a false document: Using or presenting a forged document as genuine constitutes a separate offence.
Obtaining money by false pretence: If donations were collected on the basis of the false cancer claim, this could constitute fraud.
Legal experts note that the issue goes beyond “lying online” it becomes a criminal matter if a document was altered and used to deceive people or raise money.
However, these remain allegations unless proven in a court of law.
The Blessing CEO controversy highlights several issues in Nigeria’s digital age:
Influencer accountability: The case raises questions about the responsibility of social media influencers who leverage their platforms to solicit financial support from the public.
Verification of claims: The ease with which emotional appeals can generate significant donations ₦13 million in this case without independent verification of claims poses risks for well-meaning Nigerians.
Exploitation of real patients: Deborah Mbara’s distress at having her genuine cancer survival story allegedly misused underscores how such schemes can re-traumatise real patients.
Legal consequences: If the allegations are proven, Blessing CEO could face serious criminal charges including forgery and obtaining by false pretence.
For now, public opinion remains deeply divided: some still offer support or prayers, while many view the episode as a scam or exaggerated story for financial gain.
The controversy continues to spark debates about trust, mental health claims, and accountability for influencers in Nigerian social media circles.
With no formal petition yet filed with the EFCC, it remains to be seen whether any legal action will be taken against the influencer, or whether the matter will fade from public attention like many social media controversies before it.
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