A Lagos State High Court in Ajah has sentenced Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness to 74 years in prison for fraud involving N360 million and the issuance of dud cheques.
Justice Josephine Oyefeso delivered the verdict on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, convicting Goodness on 32 of 33 charges. The charges, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), included stealing and issuing dud cheques between June and July 2015.
Goodness was arraigned on June 6, 2016, and pleaded not guilty, leading to a full trial. The EFCC presented four witnesses and multiple pieces of evidence to establish his guilt.
Justice Oyefeso sentenced him to seven years on count one for stealing and two years each on counts three to thirty-two for the issuance of dud cheques. He also received seven years on count 33. All sentences are to run concurrently.
Goodness was acquitted on count two, which involved possession of documents containing false pretences. The court further ordered him to restitute N215 million to the victim, Henry Nnadike, within 30 days of the judgment, after which a fine may be considered.
The case underscores the continued crackdown on financial crimes in Nigeria.
