LAGOS – Justice  Lateefa  Okunnu of an Ikeja High court, yesterday, began  trial in the N25.7 billion fraud case against the former Managing Director of Bank PHB Plc, Mr. Francis Atuche and his wife, as the court dismissed their application for stay of proceedings by their lawyer, Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN.

The Judge, despite an oral application by the defence counsel to shift date of trial, ordered prosecution witness to step into the witness box.

The couple is facing trial alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of Bank PHB, Mr. Ugo Anyanwu.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, called its first witness, Mr. Diamond Uju to testify. The court in a short ruling,  dismissed Atuche’s application for stay of proceedings.