Court sentences businessman to 74 years in prison over N360m theft

A Lagos high court in Ajah has sentenced Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness to 74 years imprisonment for stealing N360 million and issuing dud cheques.

Goodness was arraigned in June 2016 on a 33-count charge bordering on theft.

The charges were filed by the Lagos zonal directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The defendant was arrested for fraudulently converting and stealing the sum from one Henry Nnadike.

“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 (Three Hundred and Sixty Million Naira), 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,” part of the charge sheet reads.

Goodness pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

During the trial, T.J. Banjo, the prosecution counsel, called four witnesses and presented several pieces of evidence to prove his case against the defendant.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday after nine years of trial, Josephine Oyefeso, the judge, found Goodness guilty on 32 of 33 counts.

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 32 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 for possession of fake documents.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

The judge ordered him to refund N215 million within 30 days of the verdict and further held that he might be considered for a fine thereafter.