N360m Fraud: Court Sentences Man To 74 Years’ Imprisonment For Stealing, Issuing Dud Cheques in Lagos

Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ajah, Lagos, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, convicted and sentenced Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness to 74 years imprisonment for stealing and issuing dud cheques.

The convict 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 the issuance of dud cheques to the tune of N360,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and Sixty Million Naira).

One of the charges reads:
“That you, Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness, sometime between June and July 2015, at Ikeja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently converted and stole the sum of N360,000,000.00, property of one Henry Nnadike, and thereby committed the offence of stealing by conversion contrary to Sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

Goodness pleaded “not guilty” to all charges, prompting a full trial.

During the proceedings, prosecution counsel T.J. Banjo called four witnesses and tendered multiple exhibits to establish the case against the defendant.

Delivering her judgment, Justice Oyefeso found the defendant guilty on 32 of the 33 counts. He was:

• Sentenced to seven years imprisonment on count one (stealing),
• Sentenced to two years imprisonment each on counts three through thirty-two (issuance of dud cheques),
• Sentenced to seven years imprisonment on count thirty-three (attempt to defraud),
  all without the option of a fine.

However, he was discharged and acquitted on count two, which alleged possession of documents containing false pretences.

All sentences are to run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of seven years in prison.

The court also ordered him to restitute the sum of N215 million to the victim, Henry Nnadike, within 30 days of the judgment. The judge further noted that he may be considered for a fine if he complies with the restitution order.

Chukwudi Okonkwo Goodness’s conviction stemmed from his fraudulent conversion and theft of N360 million belonging to Nnadike, for which he was found guilty and duly sentenced.