EFCC re-arraigns former bank MD on forgery charges

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday re-arraigned Francis Atuche, the former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB Plc, on a nine-count charge of conspiracy and forgery.

The arraignment took place before Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.

Atuche was re-arraigned alongside two co-defendants, Nnosiri Joachim (also known as Ifeanyi) and Uguru Onyike. The case, which has seen multiple restarts due to judicial transfers and promotions, began anew after the former presiding judges, Justice Habeeb Abiru and Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, were reassigned to other courts.

One of the charges against Atuche alleges that he conspired with the other defendants to forge a document titled “Board Resolution of Future View Securities Limited” dated December 17, 2007. Another charge accuses Nnosiri Joachim of knowingly presenting a falsified “Board Resolution of Trajek Nigeria Limited” dated December 15, 2007, to Keystone Bank as genuine.

Prosecuting counsel Fanen Anum informed the court that the trial was starting afresh and requested new trial dates. Defense counsel Anthony Ejere and Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN, sought to maintain the earlier bail conditions granted to their clients by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.

In her ruling, Justice Abike-Fadipe upheld the request, allowing the defendants to remain on the previously granted bail. She adjourned the case for trial to May 6, 7, 8, 13, 20, and 27, 2025.

This latest case stems from allegations that Atuche enlisted 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, which had been missing since October 2009, included board resolutions for Future View Securities Limited, Extra Oil Limited, and Trajek Nigeria Limited.

The EFCC claims the forged documents were intended to be used as evidence in an ongoing case involving Atuche before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.

The trial is expected to shed more light on the allegations as proceedings continue in 2025.