Alleged N15.6b fraud: Court remands ex-Skye Bank chairman Tunde Ayeni in Kuje prison
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Apo, has ordered the remand of Tunde Ayeni, a former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the defunct Skye
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Apo, has ordered the remand of Tunde Ayeni, a former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, to Kuje Prison.
Justice Jude Onwuzuruike issued the order on Monday after Ayeni was arraigned on a 17-count charge alleging criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and conversion of investors' funds amounting to N15,665,085,429.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the spokesmen of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dele Oyewale, Ayeni pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.
In view of the defendant's not-guilty plea, the prosecuting lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), applied for a date to open the prosecution's case and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional centre.
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Defence lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN) urged the court to release the defendant to him or return him to the custody of the EFCC, from where he was brought to court.
Ruling, Justice Onwuzuruike ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Kuje correctional centre pending the determination of the bail application.
The judge adjourned the further hearing till May 13.
Count three of the charge read, "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.
Count five of the charge read, "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."
