MICHAEL AKINOLA
A man, Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness, has been sentenced to 74 years imprisonment for alleged stealing and issuing of dud cheques to the complainant, Henry Nnadike, in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the judgment of Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ajah, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, who found him guilty and convicted him accordingly.
The convict, Goodness, was arraigned on June 6, 2016 on a 33-count charge bordering on stealing and issuance of dud cheques to the tune of N360 million by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The matter lasted for nine years before the Court decided finally on the matter.
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 Honorable Court, fraudulently converted and stole the sum of N360 million, property of one Henry Nnadike and committed an offence of stealing by conversion contrary to Sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him, thereby leading to his full trial.
During the trial, the prosecution counsel, T.J. Banjo, called four witnesses and presented several pieces of evidence to prove his case against the defendant.
While delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Oyefeso found Goodness guilty on 32 of the 33 counts and sentenced him accordingly.
The judge sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on count one of stealing.
He was sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of counts three to thirty-two for the issuance of dud cheques, without an option of fine.
The judge also sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on count 33, without an option of fine.
He was however, discharged and acquitted on count two of possession of documents containing false pretence.
However, the Court ruled that the sentences will run concurrently.