The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), re-arraigned Francis Atuche, former managing director of the defunct Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank Limited), alongside two others, Nnosiri Joachim (a.k.a Ifeanyi) and Uguru Onyike, on a nine-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony and forgery.
The re-arraignment took place at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe.
When the charges were read, all three defendants pleaded not guilty.
Prosecuting counsel, Fanen Anum, informed the court that the trial was starting afresh and requested a trial date.
Defense counsels, Anthony Ejere (representing Atuche) and Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN, representing Joachim and Onyike), requested that their clients continue enjoying the bail previously granted by the court.
Justice Abike-Fadipe upheld their requests, allowing the defendants to remain on their earlier bail terms.
The case was adjourned to May 6, 2025, for trial.
The forgery allegations date back to 2013, when Atuche allegedly instructed Joachim, an office assistant at Keystone Bank’s Central Sharing Services Centre, to deliver forged documents to the bank’s corporate headquarters.
The documents, purportedly board resolutions of Future View Securities Limited, Extra Oil Limited, and Trajek Nigeria Limited, were allegedly intended to be used as exhibits in a legal case between Atuche and the EFCC.
The prosecution alleges that the documents had been missing since October 2009.
One of the charges reads:
“Francis Atuche, Nnosiri Joachim (a.k.a Ifeanyi), and Uguru Onyike, on or about March 4, 2013, in Lagos within 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 December 17, 2007.”
Another count accuses Joachim of knowingly using a fraudulent board resolution document from Trajek Nigeria Limited, falsely purporting it to be signed by Elizabeth Ebi, a director of the company, and presenting it to Keystone Bank as genuine.
The case has seen multiple adjournments and changes in presiding judges, including Justice Habeeb Abiru (now at the Supreme Court) and Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo (retired), leading to its transfer to Justice Abike-Fadipe.
The EFCC alleges that the forged documents were part of an effort to defraud and obstruct justice in ongoing investigations.
