A Lagos State High Court in Ajah has sentenced Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness to 74 years in prison for stealing and issuing cheques that were dishonoured, involving a total sum of ₦360 million.
The conviction followed a full trial that began in 2016 after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Goodness on a 33-count charge. The offences bordered on stealing and issuing dud cheques in a transaction involving one Henry Nnadike.
According to court documents, the offences were committed between June and July 2015 in Ikeja, where the defendant allegedly diverted the funds for personal use. Goodness had pleaded not guilty to all charges at the time of arraignment.
During the trial, EFCC counsel T.J. Banjo presented four witnesses and submitted various pieces of documentary evidence to support the prosecution’s case.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Josephine Oyefeso found the defendant guilty on 32 of the 33 counts. He was acquitted on a single count relating to possession of documents containing false pretence.
On the count of stealing, he was sentenced to seven years in prison. For each of the 30 counts related to the issuance of dud cheques, he received two years, and an additional seven years was handed down on the final count. All sentences are to run concurrently.
Justice Oyefeso also ordered Goodness to pay ₦215 million in restitution to the victim within 30 days. She stated that the court may consider a monetary penalty if the restitution is made within the given period.
The case, which had lingered for nearly nine years, concluded with a clear warning against financial crimes and the use of false financial instruments in commercial transactions.
