An FCT High Court has remanded former Skye Bank chairman Tunde Ayeni in Kuje prison over alleged N15.6bn fraud. He pleaded not guilty
Alleged N15.6bn Fraud: Ex-Skye Bank Chairman Tunde Ayeni Remanded in Kuje Prison
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo has ordered the remand of Tunde Ayeni, former chairman of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, at the Kuje Correctional Centre over an alleged N15.6 billion fraud.
Trial judge Jude Onwuzuruike gave the order on Monday after the defendant was arraigned on a 17-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and conversion of investors’ funds amounting to N15,665,085,429. Ayeni, however, pleaded not guilty to all counts when the charges were read in court.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission through its spokesman Dele Oyewale, the prosecution alleged that the former bank chief unlawfully diverted huge sums from depositors’ funds during his time at the helm of the financial institution.
Following his plea, prosecuting counsel Ekele Iheanacho (SAN) asked the court for a date to commence trial and urged that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility. Defence counsel Ahmed Raji (SAN) countered by requesting that his client be released to him or returned to EFCC custody.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuzuruike declined the defence request and ordered that Ayeni be remanded in Kuje pending the hearing and determination of his bail application. The case was subsequently adjourned to May 13 for further proceedings.
One of the charges before the court reads: “That you, Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc between 21st of October, 2014 and 19th November, 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and having dominion over depositors funds domiciled in the defunct Skye bank Plc’s Suspense Account, committed criminal breach of trust when you dishonestly misappropriated the aggregate sum of Three billion, Two hundred and One million, Five Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty Nine Naira, Forty two kobo (N3,201,535,429.42) by transferring same to Misa Limited’s account No: 1011295717 and 1011295718 domiciled with Zenith Bank in Violation of the Prudential Guidelines and other regulations and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 312 of the same Act.”
Another count states: “That you Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Defunct Skye Bank Plc on or about 27th November, 2014, at Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and having dominion over depositors’ funds domiciled in the defunct Skye bank Plc’s Suspense Account, committed criminal breach of trust when you dishonestly misappropriated the sum of Five Billion, Seventy Eight million, Five hundred and Fifty thousand Naira (N5, 078,550,000) by transferring same to Union Registrar Limited’s Account No: 0003490559 domiciled with Union Bank in violation of the Prudential Guidelines and other Regulations and thereby Committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and Punishable under Section 312 of same Act.”
