BY SEYIFUNMI LUMEKO
Former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB Plc, Francis Atuche has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by an Ikeja High Court in Lagos.
The court also sentenced the former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the defunct Bank PHB Plc, Ugo Anyanwu to 10 years, both for stealing and conspiracy to steal N27billion.
However, Justice Lateefat Okunnu, before whom the defendants were tried, discharged and acquitted Atuche’s wife Elizabeth.
In sentencing the duo, the judge upheld the arguments of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kemi Pinheiro, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC with the Fiat of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
Pinheiro had opposed Atuche’s contention that the stolen funds in dispute were loaned, not stolen. The judge agreed with him.
She held that the money belonged to the bank and that it was capable of being stolen.
“The 1st Defendant confirmed the bank’s ownership of the money when he said the bank in lending money makes a profit.
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“I am persuaded by the statement of Pat Utomi that ‘The bank still has control over the money that’s left in its coffers, no matter who uses it’….
“Helen Eriyo, who is the account officer of Petosan, being unaware of the loans granted, lends credit to the testimony of Mr Ololo that he was not aware of the loan….
“The alter egos and true directing mind of the companies knew nothing about the loans. The loans indeed were a hoax.
“Counts 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 have been established. Now to counts 11 to 22, 24 and 26
“The 1st and 3rd Defendants did not debunk the evidence of the prosecution that the loans were used to purchase shares. They rather contended that the monies granted as the loan could be used for whatever purposes.”
