Tunde Ayeni: Photo credit: Arise News
By Victory Oghene
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned Tunde Ayeni, former chairman of the board of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, now Polaris Bank, over an alleged N15.6 billion fraud.
Ayeni was re-arraigned on Thursday before Jude Onwuegbuzie, judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Apo, on an amended 18-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and diversion of funds.
He was first arraigned on May 4 and re-arraigned on an amended charge on June 22. Thursday’s proceedings marked the third time Ayeni has been arraigned over the matter.
According to the charge sheet, Ayeni is accused of directing the transfer of more than N3.1 billion from Skye Bank’s suspense account to an account belonging to Misa Limited, domiciled with Zenith Bank, in November 2014, while serving chairman of the bank’s board.
He is also accused of directing the transfer of more than N5 billion from the same suspense account to an account belonging to Greenwich Registrars, domiciled with Union Bank, weeks later in December 2014.
The EFCC alleged that both transactions were carried out in breach of Ayeni’s contractual obligations to the bank, contrary to section 311 of the penal code and punishable under section 312 of the same law.
Ayeni pleaded not guilty to all 18 counts.
Following Ayeni’s plea, Abba Muhammed, lead prosecution counsel, told the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed, adding that its first witness was present.
Olalekan Ojo, Ayeni’s counsel, opposed the immediate commencement of the trial, arguing that the prosecution had not filed a summary of the witness’s statements.
Muhammed responded that the summary had been filed alongside the second amended charge.
In his ruling, the judge held that the prosecution had complied with the necessary requirements and adjourned the matter to July 20, 22 and 23 for continuation of the trial.
