The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has again re-arraigned Tunde Ayeni, former chairman of the board of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, now Polaris Bank, over an alleged N15.3 billion fraud.
Ayeni was re-arraigned on Wednesday before Hamza Mu’azu, a judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court, on an 18-count amended charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and diversion of funds.
The defendant stood before the judge on the amended charges on which he had previously been re-arraigned before Jude Onwuegbuzie, a judge of the FCT high court, on July 16.
According to the anti-graft agency, the case was transferred from Onwuegbuzie to Mu’azu.
In 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 accused of directing the transfer of more than N5 billion from the same suspense account to an account belonging to Greenwich Registrars, domiciled with Union Bank, weeks later in December 2014.
Ayeni pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read in court.
After the defendant took his plea, Abba Muhammed, prosecution counsel, requested for a trial date.
However, E. Inegedu, Ayeni’s counsel, prayed the court to maintain the bail conditions previously granted to his client in May 2026.
Inegedu told the court that his client has been attending court proceedings without violating the conditions.
Responding, Muhammed said he would leave the bail issue to the discretion of the court.
Both lawyers admitted that the defendant consistently attended court sittings without any reported breach of his bail conditions.
The trial judge adjourned the case until January 19, 2027, for commencement of trial.
On July 16, the defendant was re-arraigned before Onwuegbuzie on an 18-count charge. He pleaded not guilty.
He was first arraigned on May 4 and re-arraigned on an amended charge on June 22.
Wednesday’s proceedings marked the fourth time Ayeni has been arraigned over the case in 2026.
