Ex- Bank PHB boss wants court to dismiss charges!

Francis Atuche

A former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche, on Tuesday asked an Ikeja High Court to dismiss the N25.7 billion theft charge preferred against him.

Elizabeth Atuche

Mr. Atuche and his wife, Elizabeth, are standing trial before Justice Lateefat Okunnu. They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu.

Ugo Anyanwu

Mr. Atuche’s application was premised on a judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on November 21.

The appellate court had, in the judgment, struck out a theft charge preferred against a former Managing Director of Finbank Plc, Okey Nwosu and some others.

The Court of Appeal held in Mr. Nwosu’s case that the Lagos High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the charge because it emanated from capital market transactions.

The appellate court held that such a capital market-based case should be handled by the Federal High Court.

Mr. Atuche’s Counsel, Anthony Idigbe, argued in the application dated November 27 that his client’s case was similar to Mr. Nwosu’s.

He said: “Your lordship will see clearly that the pith and substance of this charge is alleged fraudulent conversion of sums of monies into shares.”

“This court cannot reach a fair, just and whole decision at the end of trial without considering exhibits bordering on capital market issues on which it lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate.”

“In view of all the foregoing, we urge your lordship to decline jurisdiction at this stage in order not to further engage in exercise in futility.”

However, the EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, in preliminary objection, urged the court to strike out the application for “being frivolous and vexatious”.

Mr. Pinheiro said that the Court of Appeal’s decision in Nwosu’s case was inapplicable to Atuche’s case.

The court has adjourned the case till December16 for further hearing.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria