The trial of former Managing Director of Bank PHB Plc, Mr. Francis Atuche and two others, on theft charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC continued on Wednesday January 18 with the prosecution informing the court that it had lined up twelve more witnesses to testify against the accused persons.

Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, (SAN) counsel to the Commission stated this just as the fourth prosecution witness, Mr. Waheed Gbadamosi, a compliance officer with Bank PHB( now Keystone Bank Limited) concluded his evidence before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja. Gbadamosi was crossed examined by counsel to the third accused, Sylvia Ogwemoh who wanted to know why the witness failed to query any of the questionable transactions which he attributed to his client. He accused the witness of attempting to mislead the court. Shortly after Gbadamosi concluded his evidence, Kemi Pinheiro SAN, called the 5th prosecution witness, Mrs. Helen Eriyor who was the relationship manager with the bank, to give evidence on how the alleged twenty five billion naira (N25billion) was stolen by the defendants.

Eriyor went on to confirm the signature of Atuche that appeared on documents approving credit facilities to some companies such as Petrosan Oil and Gas Limited and Future View Securities Limited.

Under cross examination, Atuche’s counsel, Anthony Idigbe (SAN) accused the witness of misleading the court through false evidence. He claimed her evidence was inconsistent and that she had lied to the court about her resumption date of 3rd of December 2007 which was at variant with her earlier claim of November 7th, 2007 in her statement with the anti- graft agency. Justice Lateefa Okunnu later adjourned proceedings to Friday 20th January, 2012 for continuation of trial.

Wilson Uwujaren
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
18th January, 2012