The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday re-arraigned a former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Francis Atuche, and two others for alleged forgery.
The former Managing Director of Bank PHB was re-arraigned alongside Joachim Nnosiri and Uguru Onyike by the EFCC.
They are standing trial before an Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos State on a nine-count charge bordering on using false documents, conspiracy and forgery.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The EFCC had told the court that the defendants committed the offences on March 4, 2013 in Lagos.
According to the commission, Atuche contacted Nnosiri, an office assistant with the bank, to deliver some forged documents to the bank’s corporate headquarters in Lagos for onward presentation in court as exhibits.
The EFCC said that Atuche was standing trial before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Ikeja High Court, when he presented the alleged forged documents.
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The anti-graft agency alleged that the forged documents were board resolutions of Future View Securities Limited, Extra Oil Limited, and Trajek Nigeria Limited.
According to the commission, the documents have been missing in the bank since October 2009.
The prosecution said the offences violated Sections 364, 363 and Section 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
After the defendants were re-arraigned, the counsel to the EFCC, Fanen Anum, told the court that the case would start de novo.
Anum, therefore, asked for a trial date.
Counsel to all the defendants, Anthony Ejere, and Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN), urged the court to allow their clients enjoy the earlier bail granted to them by the court.
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe granted their prayers.
The judge adjourned the case until May 6, 2025 for the commencement of trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the defendants were standing trial before Justice Habeeb Abiru before the judge was elevated to the Court of Appeal.
The case was re-assigned to Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo who went on retirement.
The case was finally re-assigned to Justice Abike-Fadipe of the Ikeja Special Offences Court.
