Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Monday remanded former Skye Bank chairman Tunde Ayeni in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie gave the order after Mr Ayeni was arraigned on a 17-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ayeni pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho asked the court to fix a date for trial and also requested that the defendant be remanded in custody.
Defence counsel Ahmed Raji told the court that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution. He said the charge was served on the defendant on a public holiday and asked for a short date for the bail hearing.
He also asked the court to release Ayeni to him and another senior advocate in his team, saying they would produce him in court on the next date.
Justice Onwuegbuzie declined the request and ordered that Ayeni be kept at Kuje Correctional Centre. He adjourned the matter to 13 May for the hearing of the bail application.
The EFCC said the charges involve about N15.6 billion. It alleged that Ayeni, while serving as chairman of the bank, authorised transfers from a suspense account into accounts linked to several companies between 2014 and 2016.
Some of the transactions listed in the charges include N3.2 billion to Misa Limited, N5.07 billion to Union Registrars Limited, N850 million to Capital Field Investment and Trust Limited and N554 million to Capital Assets Limited.
Other companies listed include Harigold Ventures Limited, Beks Kimse Limited, Suis Properties Limited, Jodes Nigeria Limited, Ridge Associate Limited, Hades Meridian Limited, Georgetown Capital Partners Limited and Speedy Print Limited.
Tunde Ayeni was first arrested by the EFCC on 23 April. The commission said the arrest followed investigations into loans obtained from Polaris Bank through linked entities and alleged diversion of funds.
The case is part of earlier proceedings involving Ayeni and other former Skye Bank officials over alleged mismanagement of depositors’ funds and financial transactions linked to the bank’s collapse.
In 2018, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revoked Skye Bank’s licence and later set up Polaris Bank as a bridge bank after regulatory findings on its financial position.
