The Supreme Court of Nigeria has confirmed the conviction and six-year prison sentence of Francis Atuche, the former Managing Director of the now-defunct Bank PHB, for a N25.7 billion fraud.
The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, stated that Atuche failed to provide sufficient evidence to overturn the judgments of the lower courts.
The Court emphasized that when the trial court’s findings are supported by evidence, the appellate court should not interfere. Therefore, the appeal was dismissed for lacking merit.
In a unanimous judgment by a five-member panel which was prepared by Justice Habeeb Abiru and delivered by Justice Moore Adumein, the apex court held that Atuche has repeatedly failed to prove beyond reasonable doubts why the concurrent judgments of the two lower courts should be tampered with and upturned.
“Where the finding of a trial court on the demeanour of a witness is supported by oral and documentary evidence tendered at the trial, as in the present case, an appellate court has no business tampering with the decision of the trial court.
At the court of first instance, Justice Lateefat Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Lagos on June 16, 2021, ruled that the EFCC had convincingly proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt and subsequently sentenced Atuche to 12 years and former Chief Financial Officer of the defunct bank, Ugo Anyanwu Anyanwu to 10 years imprisonment.
The judge also discharged and acquitted Atuche’s wife, Elisabeth Atuche.
In an appeal, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division affirmed the judgment of the trial court on June 23, 2022, with an adjustment in Atuche’s sentence to six years and Anyanwu’s sentence to eight years.
The Court of Appeal equally upheld the discharge and acquittal of Atuche’s wife.
Atuche, along with his wife Elizabeth and former Chief Financial Officer Anyanwu were tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on 27 -count charges bordering on conspiracy to commit felony, stealing and money laundering. The court found Atuche and Anyanwu guilty of 21 counts and were subsequently convicted by Justice Okunnu.
The apex court’s unanimous decision has brought to conclusion the trial of the former top banker that has spanned over thirteen years.
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