Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the Lagos State High Court in Ajah sentenced Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness to 74 years imprisonment on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, for stealing and issuing dud cheques.
Chukwudi was arraigned on June 6, 2016, on a 33-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1. The charges involved stealing and issuing dud cheques amounting to N360 million.
One of the charges stated that between June and July 2015, at Ikeja, Chukwudi fraudulently converted N360 million belonging to Henry Nnadike, an act considered stealing by conversion under Sections 278 and 285 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2011.
Chukwudi pleaded not guilty, prompting a full trial. The prosecution, led by T.J. Banjo, called four witnesses and presented multiple pieces of evidence.
Justice Oyefeso found Chukwudi guilty on 32 of the 33 counts. He received a seven-year sentence for the first count of stealing and two years each for counts three to thirty-two relating to the issuance of dud cheques, all without an option of a fine. On count 33, he was sentenced to seven years without an option of fine. He was acquitted on count two, which involved possession of documents with false pretenses.
All sentences will run concurrently.
Additionally, the judge ordered Chukwudi to restitute N215 million within 30 days and indicated that a fine might be considered afterward.
Chukwudi’s conviction came after his arrest for fraudulently converting N360 million belonging to Henry Nnadike, sealing his fate in court.
