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.
News Point Nigeria reports that Ayeni was re-arraigned on Thursday before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja, on an amended 18-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and diversion of funds.
Thursday’s proceedings marked the third time the former bank chairman has been arraigned over the matter, having first appeared before the court on May 4 and subsequently re-arraigned on an amended charge on June 22.
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 as chairman of the bank’s board.
He is also alleged to have directed the transfer of more than N5 billion from the same suspense account to an account belonging to Greenwich Registrars, domiciled with Union Bank, a few weeks later in December 2014.
The anti-graft agency 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.
When the charges were read to him, Ayeni pleaded not guilty to all 18 counts.
Following the plea, the lead prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed, informed the court that the prosecution was prepared to proceed with the trial, adding that its first witness was already present in court.
However, Ayeni’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, opposed the immediate commencement of the trial, arguing that the prosecution had failed to file a summary of the witness’s statements.
Responding, Muhammed maintained that the summary had been duly filed alongside the second amended charge.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the prosecution had complied with the necessary legal requirements and subsequently adjourned the matter until July 20, 22 and 23 for the continuation of the trial.
