By ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA

LAGOS — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, closed its case against the former Managing Director of Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Mr Francis Atuche and two others accused of stealing N25.7 billion belonging to the bank.

At the resumed hearing of the case before justice Lateefa Okunnu, the defendants told the court that rather than opening their defence, they are going to file a no case submission against the offences.

Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth and the former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Mr. Chris Anyanwu are accused of stealing the money belonging to the bank.

Represented by Mr. Tayo Oyetibo,  SAN, Atuche at the beginning of the matter embarked on further cross-examinations of two of the EFCC’s witnesses,  Diamond Uju and Elizabeth Ebi, who had earlier given evidences before the court.

Their re-appearance was sequel to an order given by the court at the instance of the defence for further cross examination on some new facts.

Moment questions were asked about their (witnesses) involvement in any of the companies or knowledge of how documents are signed in the company (Futureview) allegedly used by the banks’ directors to siphon its fund, the duo of Ebi and Uju denied any knowledge.

The documents being denied are board resolutions of four companies – Futureview Security Limited, Trajek, Extra Oil limited and Integrated Service Limited.

When further pressed, Mrs  Ebi later agreed that she is a Director in Futureview Security Limited but stated that she has nothing to do with the other three companies despite the fact that her signatures appeared on the board resolution of the four companies.

Ebi said, though the signatures appear to be hers,  she said she doubted the genuineness of the documents.

She said the letter-head used does not belong to Futureview and the e-mail address as well as the website address on it.

Ebi added that the content of the resolution also does not tally with her company’s method of preparing resolutions.

Further hearing was adjourned till April 17, 2013 for the defence to move their No Case Submission.