There is an update on the case of Mr. Francis Atuche, former Managing Director of Bank PHB Plc, now Keystone Bank and his wife, Elizabeth who were accused of stealing about N25.7 billion belonging to the bank.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday 27th September, 2017 revived the six-year-old trial involving them. A five-man bench of the Supreme Court led by Justice Dattijo Muhammad unanimously nullified the order made by the Court of Appeal in September 2016, when the lower court directed the Chief Judge of Lagos State to re-assign the case to a new judge.
The apex court directed that Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court, before whom the prosecution had closed its case with 18 witnesses (six of whom were subpoenaed) and the defence had called eight witnesses, should continue with the case.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, in 2011 arraigned Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth, and the then Financial Officer of the defunct Bank PHB Plc, Ugo Anyanwu, before Justice Okunnu for allegedly stealing N25.7billion belonging to the bank.