The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned former Chairman of Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni, over an alleged ₦15.6 billion fraud before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
Ayeni was docked on Monday before Justice Jude Onwuzuruike on a 17-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and diversion of depositors’ funds.
According to the prosecution, led by E.E. Iheanacho, the alleged offences were committed in 2014 while Ayeni served as chairman of the now-defunct Skye Bank.
The charges include claims that he diverted over ₦3.2 billion from the bank’s suspense account to private accounts linked to a company, as well as an additional ₦5.07 billion transferred to an account associated with a registrar firm, both in violation of banking regulations.
Ayeni, however, pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Following his plea, the prosecution asked the court to fix a date for trial and requested that the defendant be remanded in custody pending proceedings.
Defence counsel, Ahmed Raji Bashir, informed the court that the charges were served on his client on a public holiday and urged the court to either release him to counsel’s custody or return him to the EFCC.
Ruling on the applications, Justice Onwuzuruike adjourned the case to May 13, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and ordered that Ayeni be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the outcome of the bail request.