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As Lab Declines Comment over Forgery Claim
- Safiu Kehinde
Nigerian businesswoman and social media influencer, Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, is causing ripples with her breast cancer diagnosis claims after being called out over alleged forgery of medical report.
NPO Reported that Blessing CEO had last week announced being diagnosed of breast cancer as she solicited for financial assistance for an urgent surgical operation on her breasts.
She made the announcement in series of post shared on her Instagram handle.
Prior to the posts, the social media influencer announced the auctioning of all her wigs which she put on sale before making another video of her cutting off her hair.
While the announcement of the diagnosis had attracted sympathy and contributions from some netizens and her fans, some however questioned the authenticity of her claims which had since been subject of speculations.
Amid the growing speculations, a Nigerian businessman, Chidi Mike, leaked the medical report of the social media influencer which he alleged was forged from the report of a breast cancer patient identified as Mbara Deborah.
Both reports, as seen in a post shared on X on Monday, were issued by Xinus Medical Diagnostics with one Dr. O.A Odigwe as the lab’s Consultant Pathologist.
As quoted in the post, Chidi accused Blessing CEO of lying to Nigerians as he alleged that the influencer had manipulated the real breast cancer patient to send her result which she forged to solicit for financial support.
“Blessing CEO lied to Nigerians. She forged a fake lab result from an actual br£a$t cancer patient’s result and the real result owners are looking to sue her because she Manipulated the patient into sending the result” The businessman wrote.
Meanwhile, NPO Reports observed some discrepancies in both medical results.
The medical lab address of Mbara’s report read 5, Obiguo Close, Off Ezenel Avenue, Asaba Delta State, with the hospital which referred the patient to the lab identified as El-Comfort Hospital, Asaba.
On the other hand, the address of the medical lab seen on Blessing CEO’s result read 5, Obiguo Close, Enugu, Enugu State with the hospital which referred the social media influencer to the lab identified as Comfort Hospital, Enugu.
Also, the Clinician who attended to Mbara was identified as Dr. Ajufoh while that of Blessing CEO was identified as Dr, Fortune.
In a bid to clarify the discrepancies, NPO Reports correspondent called the medical labs’ telephone contact stated in Mbara’s results.
An official who did not disclose his name confirmed the lab’s knowledge of the forgery claim.
He however maintained that the lab will not be making any statement over the claim as he disclosed that the matter is currently in court.
“I’m aware of this case and the case is taking a legal dimension. So, I can’t make comment here.” He said.
The official also rejected our correspondent’s request for the contact of the Consultant Pathologist, Dr. O.A Odigwe.
“What I’m telling you still applies. I cannot make a statement on that.” He said.
NPO Reports further attempted to call the lab’s contact provided on Blessing CEO result which was different from Mbara’s own.
The voice at the other end would however render greetings associated to Muslims to our correspondent before stating that the contact does not belong to Xinus Medical Diagnostics.