Mrs Deborah Mbara, the woman at the centre of the controversy surrounding the alleged falsification of a cancer diagnosis by popular relationship influencer Blessing CEO, has publicly addressed the matter for the first time.
Her reaction comes hours after the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) called for the arrest and investigation of the controversial social media personality over claims that she altered a medical report belonging to a cancer patient.
The controversy erupted after Blessing CEO took to social media days ago to announce that she was battling stage 4 breast cancer.
In a series of emotional posts, she reportedly solicited financial support from members of the public, sharing what she claimed was her medical report as evidence of her diagnosis.
The document was said to have originated from Xinus Medical Diagnostics and bore the name and signature of Dr. O.A. Odigwe, identified as a consultant pathologist.
However, Xinus Medical Diagnostics subsequently refuted the claim, alleging that the medical report circulated online had been altered. According to the laboratory, the original document was issued in May 2025 to Deborah Mbara — not Blessing CEO.
In a video shared on her Instagram page, Deborah Mbara, a make-up artist and cancer survivor, narrated how she became entangled in the unfolding scandal.
According to her, she first met Blessing CEO sometime last year in Asaba, where she worked as her make-up artist. She said the two reconnected recently after Blessing began posting about her alleged cancer diagnosis.
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Mbara disclosed that a mutual acquaintance reached out to Blessing to offer support, and that she personally joined a call that included a medical doctor to provide encouragement and guidance.
During the conversation, she shared her own experience as a cancer survivor, including the physical and emotional challenges she endured.
She said Blessing later asked her to send a copy of her diagnostic report for comparison purposes.
“Sometime last year, Blessing CEO was in Asaba and I was her makeup artist. Fast forward to last week when she started crying that she had cancer and 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 educate and encourage her,” Mbara said.
“I was telling her how God saw me through my own journey and the scars. Then she said, ‘Zazi, can you just please help me send the report of when you were diagnosed so I could compare it with the one my doctor gave to me?’ And I said okay, no problem.”
Mbara expressed shock when she later discovered that the same medical report she had shared in confidence was allegedly altered and posted online to support a public fundraising campaign.
“Only for me to see it on the Internet on Friday that it was my result that she doctored to back up the nonsense and money people were donating to her,” she said.
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She further alleged that despite public claims by Blessing that she did not know her or her family, the influencer had recently visited her family in Asaba to plead for understanding.
“She said she doesn’t know me and has never spoken to any of my family. 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 stated.
“I thought I was helping someone in need, not knowing she had a different agenda. This is evil.”
The NMA has condemned the alleged falsification of medical documents, describing it as a serious ethical and criminal issue that undermines public trust in healthcare institutions. The association has reportedly urged relevant law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter thoroughly.
The development has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many Nigerians calling for accountability, particularly in cases involving sensitive health conditions and public donations.