A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Apo has ordered the remand of a former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni, in Kuje Prison.
Justice Jude Onwuzuruike issued the order yesterday following Ayeni’s arraignment on a 17-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and conversion of investors’ funds to the tune of N15,665,085,429.
A statement by the spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dele Oyewale, said Ayeni pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.
In view of the defendant’s plea, the prosecuting lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), applied for a date for the prosecution to open its case and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional centre.
The 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.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuzuruike ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of bail application.
The judge adjourned further hearing till May 13.
Count three of the charge reads: “That you, Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc between October 21, 2014, and November 19, 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 N3,201,535,429.42 by transferring same to Misa Limited’s account numbers 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 reads: “That you, Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Defunct Skye Bank Plc on or about November 27, 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 N5,078,550,000 by transferring same to Union Registrar Limited’s account number 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.”
Source: The Nation News