Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness was sentenced to 74 years in jail by Justice Josephine Oyefeso of a Lagos High Court in Ajah for stealing ₦360 million and providing bogus cheques to his victim.
The judgment, announced on Tuesday, concludes a nine-year trial that began in June 2016, when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Goodness with 33 counts of stealing, fraud, and issuing counterfeit financial instruments.

The EFCC alleges that Goodness defrauded Henry Nnadike of ₦360 million between June and July 2015.

“That you, Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness, sometime between the months of June and July 2015 at Ikeja… fraudulently converted and stole the sum of ₦360,000,000.00… and committed an offence of stealing by conversion contrary to Sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011,” the charge sheet’s first section stated.

Read Also: Appeal Court Throws Out Akpabio’s Applications in Suit Against Senator Natasha, Fines Him N100,000

Goodness pled not guilty on all 33 counts. During the trial, prosecuting counsel T.J. Banjo presented four witnesses and several exhibits to back up the charges.

Justice Oyefeso found Goodness guilty on 32 of the 33 counts, but acquitted him on the charge of possessing fraudulent documents.

The court passed the following sentences:

7 years in jail on count one for theft;

2 years each on counts 3–32 for issue of dud cheques, without the possibility of fine;

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

The judge ruled that all sentences run concurrently, resulting in a total of seven years in prison.

The court ordered Goodness to refund ₦215 million to the victim within 30 days of the decision. Justice Oyefeso ordered that the defendant might be considered for a fine only after the reimbursement was paid.