Court To Prosecute Former Bank PHB Director, Two Others Over Alleged Forgery
By Felix Kuyinu
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche, over allegations of forgery.
Atuche, alongside two others, Nnosiri Joachim and Uguru Onyikenare faced prosecution at the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on nine count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony and forgery.
The proceeding was not concluded. Justice Abike Fadipe adjourned the case till May 6, 7, 8, 13, 20 and 27, 2025.
The trio will now be arraigned before Justice Habeeb Abiru who has now been upgraded as a Judge of the Court of Appeal.
The EFCC submitted that Atuche contacted the second accused, Nnosiri, an Office Assistant with Keystone Bank’s Central Sharing Services Centre in Lagos, to deliver some alleged forged documents to the Bank’s corporate headquarters in Lagos for onward presentation in court as exhibits in an on-going case between him and the Commission.
The Commission added that the forged documents that had been missing since October 2009 are the Board’s resolutions of Future View Securities Limited, Extra Oil Limited and Trajek Nigeria Limited.
One of EFCC’s count reads:“That you, Francis Atuche, Nnosiri Joachim (a.k.a Ifeanyi) and Uguru Onyike, on or about 4th day of March, 2013, in Lagos, with the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud conspired to commit felony to wit: forgery of a document titled: “BOARD RESOLUTION” of Future View Securities Limited dated 17th December, 2007.”
Another count reads: “Nnosiri Joachim (a.k.a Ifeanyi), on or about 4th day of March, 2013 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, knowingly and fraudulently used a false document titled “Board Resolution of Trajek Nigeria Limited” dated 15th December 2007, which you purported to have been duly signed by one Elizabeth Ebi (a Director of Trajek Nigeria Limited) to Keystone Bank Limited as genuine.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution counsel, Fanen Anum, told the court that the matter was starting a de novo and also prayed the court for a trial date.
Counsel to the first defendant, Anthony Ejere, however, prayed the court to allow his client, Atuche, who had been convicted over another matter, continue with the earlier bail granted to him by the court.
Also, counsel to second and third defendants, Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN, prayed the court to allow his clients to continue the earlier bail granted to them.
In a short ruling, Justice Fadipe obliged to the prayers of both defence counsels and granted the defendants the bail granted to them.
