Fraud: Court Freezes Atuche’s N19.1b in 24 banks

A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has frozen assets and funds to the tune of N19,178,253050 billion allegedly kept in 24 banks by a convicted former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB, Francis Atuche.

Justice Lateefat Okunnu made the order sequel to an August 17 application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s counsel Mr Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) in Charge No. ID/1549/2011 between the Federal Government on the one hand and Atuche and Ugo Anyanwu as first and defendants.

Anyanwu, a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, is serving time in jail following his conviction and sentencing to six years imprisonment last June 16 for N25.7billion fraud alongside Atuche

Justice Okunnu, while sentencing the duo last June, ordered that they should make restitution of the N25.7b to the Federal Government to replace the funds stolen from the public to bail out the bank.

The judge, ruling on Pinheiro’s August 17 motion seen by The Nation on Thursday, granted the agency’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 the prosecution counsel led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Kemi Pinheiro.

Justice 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…”

She noted that the assets or funds included those held indirectly by or for Atuche’s benefit, whether solely or jointly held, that is located in Nigeria or worldwide.

The judge further froze any bank account being run and operated by 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.”

She barred 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.

In another order, she restrained the banks from honouring any such instruction from Atuche and his privies.

The judge added: “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 aforementioned Schedules A and B maintained with them…”

According to the EFCC, 15 persons were used as a front by Atuche to launder the funds.

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 an interest in directly or indirectly, according to the EFCC, are Aqua Harvest Ltd, Hubmart Stores Ltd, Hubmart Ltd, Sapphire Capital Management Ltd, Homeland Real Estate Company Ltd, Malechi Foods Ltd, Homeland Meridian Partners Ltd, Promise Investment Ltd, Temple Cottage Hotel Ltd, Wegas Properties Project Ltd, Buckhead Construction Ltd, Claremount Management Services Ltd, Afco Associates Ltd, Platinum Capital Ltd, Ghazali Yakubu Investment Ltd, The Financial

(Services) Company Ltd, Venture Resources Ltd, Elizabeth-A Company Ltd, Signature Partners Ltd, Purplepay Technologies Ltd, Oakwood Asset Management Ltd And Conesto Nigeria Ltd.

Properties directly or indirectly linked to the 1 defendant include Aqua Harvest Farm, Atlantic Hall Road Opposite Mukadam House, Doka Epe, Lagos and Plot 1263, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos;

Some are Hubmart Stores, 35 Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos; Hubmart Stores, 26 Isaac John, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos; Hubmart Stores, Block A10, Plot 2 & 3 Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; Lennox Mall, Plot 2 & 3 Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; Hubmart Stores, Isheri Road, Omole Phase 1, Ojodu, Ikeja, Lagos; Temple Cottage Hotel, Plot 323 Akin Ogunlewe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Others are 2b Falomo Close, Ikoyi, Lagos; No. 11 Kingsway Layout (Now No. 4 Kingsway Close, Old Ikoyi, Lagos); House on Road 2 VGC, Lekki, Lagos; House 169, Road 43, VGC, Lekki, undeveloped land at Road 2 VGC (1300-2000) Sq. Metres; undeveloped property on Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyl, Lagos, 418 Anifowoshe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos; 46, Mamma Nasir Street, Off Ty Danjuma, Asokoro, Abuja,

Others are three properties in London: Flat 23, Harley House, Marylebone Road, London; 59, Avenue Close, Avenue Road, St. John’s Wood, London, 18 Wycombe Square, London and W87JD, Isle of Man.