The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned the former Chairman of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja, over an alleged N15.6 billion fraud.
Ayeni was brought before Justice Jude Onwuzuruike on 17 counts that include criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and conversion of depositors' funds allegedly diverted from the bank's suspense accounts. According to the EFCC, the offenses occurred in 2014 while Ayeni served as chairman of the bank's Board of Directors.
The anti-graft agency accused him of unlawfully transferring billions of naira to accounts linked to companies such as Misa Limited and Union Registrar Limited, in violation of banking regulations and prudential guidelines. One of the counts alleges that Ayeni transferred over N3.2 billion from the bank's suspense account into accounts belonging to Misa domiciled with Zenith Bank. Another count accuses him of misappropriating N5.07 billion allegedly transferred to Union Registrar's account with Union Bank.
During the proceedings, EFCC prosecuting counsel, Ekene Iheanacho (SAN), informed the court that the commission was ready for trial and urged the court to remand the defendant following his plea of not guilty. Defence counsel, Ahmed Bashir (SAN), however, asked the court to release Ayeni to him or return him to EFCC custody pending the hearing of his bail application.
Justice Onwuzuruike adjourned the matter until May 13, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that Ayeni be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of bail.
Court Admissibility Ruling in Emefiele's Case
In a related development, Justice Rahman Oshodi of a Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja ruled that the extrajudicial statement made by Henry Omoile, co-defendant to the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, is admissible in court.
Omoile had challenged the admissibility of his statements to the EFCC, alleging that they were obtained under oppression and inducement. This contention prompted the court to conduct a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the statements.
Omoile is facing three charges bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts as an agent, while Emefiele is standing trial on 19 counts filed by the EFCC, bordering on alleged gratification and corrupt demands during his tenure as CBN governor. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all counts.
At the resumed proceedings, C.C. Okezie appeared for the prosecution, while Labi Lawal (SAN) represented both the first and second defendants. Delivering the ruling, Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution had successfully established that the statements obtained on February 26, 2024, were made voluntarily and not under any form of inducement, threat, or coercion. The court further held that the statements marked as Exhibits 1–3 were admissible in evidence.
However, the court rejected the statement dated February 27, 2024, on the ground that it was not made in the presence of a legal practitioner nor recorded on video, as required by law. Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until June 26, 30, and July 6 and 8, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
