Court Sentences Man to 74 Years Imprisonment for ₦360 Million Fraud and Bounced Cheques in Lagos

A Lagos High Court judge in Ajah, Josephine Oyefeso, sentenced Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness to 74 years in prison for stealing ₦360 million and giving his victim counterfeit checks.
According to reports, the verdict, which was handed down on Tuesday, concludes a nine-year trial that started in June 2016 when Goodness was charged with 33 counts of fraud, theft, and issuing fraudulent financial instruments by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC claims that between June and July 2015, Goodness fraudulently converted Henry Nnadike’s ₦360 million.

“That you, Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness, committed the crime of stealing by conversion in violation of Sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, sometime between June and July 2015 at Ikeja… fraudulently converted and stole the sum of ₦360,000,000.00…,” the charge sheet stated.

Read Also: Aide to Ekiti State Governor Tenders Resignation

Goodness entered a not guilty plea to each of the 33 charges. To support the claims, prosecuting attorney T.J. Banjo called four witnesses and submitted numerous exhibits during the trial.

Goodness was found guilty on 32 of the 33 counts by Justice Oyefeso, and he was only found not guilty on the point of possessing forged documents.

The following punishments were imposed by the court:

7 years in jail on the first offense of theft;

two years each on charges three through thirty-two for issuing faulty checks, with no possibility of a fine;

7 years without the possibility of a fine on count 33.

The judge mandated that each term be served concurrently, which translates to a total of seven years behind bars.

In addition, the court ordered Goodness to give the victim a refund of ₦215 million within 30 days of the ruling. The offender may only be eligible for a fine once the refund has been issued, according to Justice Oyefeso’s ruling.