Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ajah has convicted and sentenced one Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness to 74 years imprisonment for stealing and issuing dud cheques.
He was first arraigned on June 6, 2016, by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 33-count charge bordering on stealing and issuance of dud cheques amounting to N360,000,000.
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 N360,000,000.00, 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.”
Goodness pleaded not guilty to the charges, prompting a full trial. During the proceedings, prosecution counsel T.J. Banjo called four witnesses and tendered several pieces of evidence to establish the case.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Oyefeso found the defendant guilty on 32 of the 33 counts. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on count one for stealing. On counts three to thirty-two, relating to the issuance of dud cheques, he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each, without an option of fine. On count 33, he received an additional seven years imprisonment, also without an option of fine.
Goodness was, however, discharged and acquitted on count two, which pertained to possession of documents containing false pretence.
The sentences are to run concurrently. The court also ordered the convict to restitute the sum of N215 million within 30 days of the judgment, after which he may be considered for a fine.
Goodness was found guilty of fraudulently converting and stealing N360 million belonging to Henry Nnadike and was convicted accordingly.
