The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday asked a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja to adjourn indefinitely its ruling on an application filed by a former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche,seeking to quash the theft charge preferred against him and two others.
Atuche, alongside his wife, Elizabeth and a former Chief Financial Officer of Bank PHB, Ugo Anyanwu, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly stealing N25.7 billion from the bank.
The presiding judge, Justice Lateef-Lawal Akapo, yesterday, was to deliver its ruling on Atuche’s application but could not after EFCC counsel, Mr Dele Adesina (SAN) informed the court of the commission’s pending application.
Adesina said the EFCC had filed an appeal against Court of Appeal judgement of November 21, 2013 at the Supreme Court, adding that the matter has being granted expeditious hearing due to its importance.
The appellate court had in the judgement struck out the theft charges preferred against a former Managing Director of Finbank Plc, Mr Okey Nwosu and others for lack of jurisdiction of the State High Courts in criminal cases relating to matters listed on the exclusive list in Section 251 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution as amended.
Source: Vanguard
