Admin l Friday, September 03, 2021
LAGOS, Nigeria – Former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB, now Keystone Bank Ltd, Mr. Francis Atuche has forfeited his assets worth N19,178,253 050 billion to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Recall that Justice Lateefat Okunnu had earlier on convicted the banker and his Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Ugo Anyanwu for N25.7 billion fraud. But Okunnu granted the application forfeiting the assets following an August 17 application filled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Charge No. ID/1549/2011 between the FRN and Mr Atuche and Ugo Anyanwu as first and second defendants. Justice Okunnu had ordered them to make a restitution to the tune of N25.7 billion to the Federal Government to replace the funds stolen from the public to bail out the bank.
Justice Okunnu granted EFCC’s 12 prayers pursuant to sections 6(d), 20, 24, 26(1), 30 and 34(1) of the EFCC Act and sections 290, 294 and 297 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2015, filed by prosecution counsel led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kemi Pinheiro.
Mrs Okunnu held: “An order is made restraining the 1st Defendant (Atuche) whether by himself, or acting through the persons or entities listed or such other persons including but not limited to his family members or agents, from removing, alienating, disposing of, dealing with or diminishing the value of assets, proceeds of economic and financial crimes or otherwise in the name of the 1st Defendant…”
According to the judge, the assets or funds included those held indirectly by or for Mr Atuche’s benefit, whether solely or jointly held, that is located in Nigeria or worldwide.
The judge also granted an order freezing accounts operated by Mr Atuche “personally or jointly, whether in his personal name or otherwise or with the Bank Verification Number: 22295357230 in any of the respondent banks to the tune of N19,178,253,050.00 only, pursuant to the Restitution Order made by this Honourable Court on the 16 day of June 2021.”
Justice Okunnu barred Mr Atuche and his privies – including his lawyers – from presenting to the Respondent Banks any mandate or instruction for the withdrawal of any money and/or funds standing to the credit of any of their accounts to the tune of N19, 178, 253. 050. She also restrained the banks from honouring any such instruction from Mr Atuche and his privies.
“A mandatory order of injunction is made directing the named respondent banks to file within 48 hours of service of this Order of this Honourable Court on them returns of the Statements of Account of the 1st Defendant (personally or jointly) whether in his personal name or otherwise or with the Bank Verification Number: 22295357230 and the accounts of persons and entities listed in the afore mentioned Schedules A and B maintained with them…
“A further order is made directing service of the Order made herein on persons affected thereby including in particular, the persons and entities listed in Schedules A and B. by way of advertisement in either The Punch or Thisday or The Guardian newspaper.
They are: Anthony Atuche, Emeka Patrick Atuche, Paul Okobi, Felix Oyiana, Moruf Kazeem Adisa, Olatunji Abiodun, Daniel Enebeli, Aina Olugbenga, Augustine Nwabueze, Omonua Benedict, Oliver King Nduaaron, Dr. Chris Ike Ogbechie, Mr. Murat Bektaslar, Attah Omataikpo Olukemi and Thomas Etuh.
The 22 firms in which Atuche has interest in directly or indirectly, according to the EFCC, are Aqua Harvest Ltd, Hubmart Stores Limited, Hubmart Limited, Sapphire Capital Management Limited, Homeland Real Estate Company Limited, Malechi Foods Limited, Homeland Meridian Partners Limited, Promise Investment Limited, Temple Cottage Hotel Limited, Wegas Properties Project Limited, Buckhead Construction Limited, Claremount Management Services Limited, Afco Associates Limited, Platinum Capital Limited, Ghazali Yakubu Investment Limited, The Financial (Services) Company Limited, Venture Resources Limited, Elizabeth-A Company Limited, Signature Partners Limited, Purplepay Technologies Limited, Oakwood Asset Management Limited And Conesto Nigeria Limited.
