By Abiola Olawale
The Supreme Court of Nigeria, on Friday, affirmed the conviction of Francis Atuche, former Managing Director of defunct Bank PHB, in a N25.7 billion fraud case.
In a judgement delivered by Justice Moore Adumein, the apex court held that Atuche failed to provide credible evidence to discredit the judgment of the two lower courts, the appeal court and the Federal High Court in Lagos State.
The apex court subsequently dismissed his appeal and affirmed his conviction.
The New Diplomat reports that shortly after the Court of Appeal in Lagos upheld the conviction of the ex-bank MD, his legal team approached the Supreme Court to overturn the judge.
Atuche had argued that both the appeal and high court delivered the judgment against him based on inadequate facts.
It would be recalled that In 2011, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arraigned Mr Atuche, his wife Elizabeth and Ugo Anyawu, a Chief Financial Officer of the bank at the time, for conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N25. 7 billion and the trial commenced.
After 12 years of trial, on June 16, 2021, Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court sentenced Atuche alongside Anyanwu for fraud committed in the bank.
His wife, Elizabeth was discharged and acquitted of the charges proffered against her.
She was discharged because the Commission failed to link her to the crime as suspicion could not take the place of fact.
In 2022, the Court of Appeal in Lagos overruled Atuche’s submissions, agreeing with the lower court’s decision to convict the duo.
The appellate court sentenced Atuche to six years in prison while Anyawu was jailed for four years.
Atuche then appealed to the Supreme Court for a final determination of the matter.
