EFCC Arraigns Tunde Ayeni Over N4.5bn Fraud

former Chairman, Board of Directors,
Skye Bank Plc, before Justice
Valentine Ashi of a Federal Capital
Territory, FCT High Court, Apo on a
four-count charge, bordering on
criminal breach of trust to the tune of
N4,597,500,000. Gistvic Reports.
Ayeni was arraigned along with
Timothy Ajani Oguntayo, for allegedly
conspiring at different times to
fraudulently divert depositors’ funds
domiciled at Skye Bank Plc to
personal use.
One of the counts reads: “That you,
Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the
Chairman, Board of Directors of the
defunct Skye Bank Plc and Timothy
Ajani Oguntayo, while being the
Managing Director, MD of the defunct
Skye Bank Plc on or about October
16, 2014 at Abuja within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court,
whilst being bankers entrusted with
property, to wit: depositors’ funds in
the defunct Skye Bank Plc’s
Suspense Account, committed
criminal breach of trust in respect of
the sum of N1,000,000,000 (One
Billion Naira) and thereby committed
an offence contrary to and punishable
under Section 315 of the Penal
Code.” Gistvic Reports.
They pleaded “not guilty” to the
charges.
Counsel for the first defendant, Dele
Adesina, SAN, who held brief for the
lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN,
informed the court of their pending
bail application, which was served on
the prosecution on December 13,
2018.
Counsel for the second defendant,
Oyetola Oshobi, SAN, also made
similar application.
The trial judge, thereafter, admitted
them to bail in the sum of N500
million (Five Hundred Million Naira)
with two sureties each in like sum,
who must be resident in Abuja, and
must own a landed property “of
sufficient value”, within Abuja
metropolis.
The matter was thereafter adjourned
to May 14, 2019, for
“commencement of trial”.