Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ajah has handed Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness a 74-year prison term after convicting him on multiple charges tied to fraud and the issuance of bounced cheques amounting to N360 million.
Goodness was initially arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on June 6, 2016.
He faced a 33-count charge, which revolved around allegations of stealing and financial misconduct involving the use of worthless cheques.
The charges were based on claims that, between June and July 2015, he unlawfully diverted N360 million belonging to one Henry Nnadike for personal gain.
One of the charges read, “That you, Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness, sometime between the months of June and July, 2015 at Ikeja, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, fraudulently converted and stole the sum of N360,000,000.00 property of one Henry Nnadike, thereby committing an offence of stealing by conversion contrary to Sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”
Despite pleading not guilty, the case proceeded to full trial. The EFCC, represented by counsel T.J. Banjo, called four witnesses and tendered a range of exhibits to back its claims.
In her verdict delivered on Tuesday, Justice Oyefeso convicted Goodness on 32 of the 33 counts. He received seven years’ imprisonment on the first count of stealing, and another seven years on count 33.
For counts three through thirty-two, each concerning the issuance of dud cheques, he was sentenced to two years per count. All sentences are to run concurrently, and none carry the option of a fine.
However, the court discharged him on count two, which alleged possession of false documents.
Justice Oyefeso also ordered the convict to refund the sum of N215 million to the victim within 30 days of the judgment.
