EFCC Re-Arraigns Ex-Bank PHB MD Francis Atuche, Two Others For Forgery in Lagos
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate, has re-arraigned Francis Atuche, the former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB Plc, on charges of conspiracy and forgery. The re-arraignment took place on Monday, December 16, 2024, before Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.
Atuche was arraigned alongside Nnosiri Joachim (a.k.a. Ifeanyi) and Uguru Onyike on a nine-count charge involving forgery and conspiracy to commit a felony. The case has previously been heard by two judges—Justice Habeeb Abiru, now a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, who has been transferred to another division of the Lagos High Court—leading to a restart of the trial.
One of the charges alleges that the defendants, on March 4, 2013, conspired to forge a document titled “BOARD RESOLUTION” of Future View Securities Limited, dated December 17, 2007, with the intent to defraud.
Another charge accuses Nnosiri Joachim of knowingly presenting a falsified document, the “Board Resolution of Trajek Nigeria Limited” dated December 15, 2007, to Keystone Bank Limited, falsely claiming it had been signed by Elizabeth Ebi, a director of the company.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges when read in court.
Prosecuting counsel, Fanen Anum, requested a trial date, noting that the case was starting de novo. Defense counsels Anthony Ejere and Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN) prayed the court to allow the defendants to continue enjoying the bail previously granted by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.
Justice Abike-Fadipe upheld the defense’s request and adjourned the case for trial on May 6, 7, 8, 13, 20, and 27, 2025.
Atuche’s fresh legal troubles with the EFCC arose after he allegedly instructed Nnosiri, an office assistant at Keystone Bank’s Central Sharing Services Centre in Lagos, to deliver forged documents to the bank’s corporate headquarters. These documents were intended as evidence in an ongoing case between Atuche and the EFCC before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.
The documents, missing since October 2009, included board resolutions for Future View Securities Limited, Extra Oil Limited, and Trajek Nigeria Limited. The EFCC contends that these were falsified to mislead the court.
This development adds another chapter to Atuche’s legal battles as he continues to face scrutiny over his role in the operations of the defunct Bank PHB Plc.
