In the world of finance, trust is a currency as valuable as money itself.
When that trust is betrayed, it can shake the foundations of institutions.
In a busy Lagos courtroom, all eyes were on Francis Atuche, the former Managing Director of the now-closed Bank PHB.
Francis Atuche Back In Court
He was back in court, facing serious accusations of forgery and conspiracy.
This wasn’t his first time in the spotlight, but the stakes were high, as he stood alongside two others, ready to fight the charges.
The case wasn’t just about them; it was a reminder of how financial crimes can shake public trust in banks and businesses.
Report From EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced on Monday via X that the re-arraignment took place before Justice O. O. Abike-Fadipe at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.
Francis Atuche is standing trial with Nnosiri Joachim, also called Ifeanyi, and Uguru Onyike.
They face a nine-count charge bordering on forging board resolutions to deceive financial institutions.
Charges Against Francis Atuche
One of the charges claims that on March 4, 2013, the trio worked together to forge a document titled “Board Resolution” for Future View Securities Limited, dated 17 December 2007.
Another charge accuses Joachim of presenting a fake “Board Resolution of Trajek Nigeria Limited” to Keystone Bank on 15 December 2007.
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The defendants, who had been in court before Justice Habeeb Abiru and later Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, maintained their plea of not guilty.
Prosecutor Fanen Anum requested fresh trial dates since the case was starting over.
The defence lawyers, Anthony Ejere and Clement Onwuenwunor, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, argued successfully for their clients to remain free on the same bail terms as before.
Justice Abike-Fadipe agreed and scheduled the trial for May 6, 7, 8, 13, 20, and 27, 2025.
Surprising Twist
In a surprising twist, Francis Atuche allegedly involved Nnosiri, an Office Assistant at Keystone Bank, to deliver fake documents to the bank’s headquarters.
These documents, missing since 2009 were supposed to be used as evidence in another case with the EFCC.
The forged papers included board resolutions for Future View Securities Limited, Extra Oil Limited, and Trajek Nigeria Limited.
