Supreme Court Affirms Six-Year Jail Term For Ex-
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld the conviction and six-year sentence of the former Managing Director of the now defunct Bank PHB, Francis Atuche by the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division over a N25.7 billion fraud
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 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.
This court has not been given any reason to tamper with the concurrent findings
of the two lower courts in this appeal, hence the appeal is totally lacking in
merit, it is hereby dismissed", the court said.
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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