By Deborah Nnamdi
Deborah Mbara, a makeup artist and cancer survivor, has alleged that her medical report was altered and used without her consent in the ongoing controversy involving social media influencer Blessing CEO, describing the experience as deeply traumatic.
Mbara made the claim in a video posted on Instagram on Tuesday, shortly after the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Delta State chapter, clarified that the medical report circulated by the influencer was a manipulated document originally issued to another patient.
According to the association, the report presented by Blessing CEO to support her claim of having stage 4 breast cancer did not belong to her but had been altered. The document was traced to Xinus Medical Diagnostics in Asaba, Delta State, which denied issuing any such report to the influencer, stating that the original result was issued to Mbara in May 2025.
In a statement signed by the Delta State NMA chairman, Israel Adaigho, and secretary, Usamah Hannah, the association explained that the test was conducted following a request from a doctor at a private hospital in Asaba for a confirmatory diagnosis of a suspected breast cancer case.
“The test was done and the result issued to the referring doctor as a case of breast cancer on May 9, 2025,” the statement noted.
The NMA further revealed that the authentic report, bearing Mbara’s name, had been made public separately by a law firm, confirming it as the original document issued through her hospital. It added that the clarification became necessary due to the misuse of the altered report and urged authorities to take appropriate action to prevent the public from being misled.
Recounting her experience, Mbara said the influencer had initially contacted her under the pretext of comparing medical results after publicly announcing her own diagnosis.
“Sometime last year, Blessing CEO was in Asaba, and I was her makeup artist,” she said. “Later, when she claimed she had cancer, we reached out to support her. She asked me to send my diagnostic report so she could compare it with hers, and I agreed.”
Mbara, however, said she was shocked to later discover that her report had been doctored and circulated online to support what she described as false claims, which also led to public donations being made to the influencer.
“I thought I was helping someone in need, not knowing she had a different agenda. This is evil,” she said, adding that the incident left her traumatised.
She also alleged that despite public denials of any prior relationship, the influencer later visited her family in Asaba to apologise privately. According to Mbara, her husband insisted that a public apology and full disclosure of events be made.
The controversy began in January when Blessing CEO announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and later shared a medical report while appealing for financial support from the public. She subsequently claimed to have raised N13 million in donations.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that no formal petition has been filed against the influencer despite growing public backlash over the incident.
