EFCC Slams 17 Fraud Charges on Ex-Skye Bank Boss Ayeni, Orders Him Remanded In Kuje

Former chairman of Skye Bank Tunde Ayeni has been remanded in Kuje Prison following his arraignment over an alleged multi-billion naira fraud case.

The order was issued by the in Abuja after proceedings on Monday, with the court adjourning ruling on his bail application until May 13, 2026.

Ayeni is facing a 17-count charge filed by the (EFCC), which accuses him of orchestrating a series of financial transactions that allegedly led to the diversion of billions of naira from depositors’ funds.

According to court filings, the alleged offences occurred between 2014 and 2016 while Ayeni served as chairman of the now-defunct bank.

Prosecutors claim he authorised multiple transfers from the bank’s suspense account into accounts linked to various companies, in violation of banking regulations.

The charges detail several high-value transactions, including hundreds of millions and billions of naira allegedly moved to firms such as Capital Assets Limited, Capital Field Investment and Trust Limited, Misa Limited, and Union Registrar Limited, among others.

One of the counts also alleges that Ayeni directly withdrew about ₦2.475 billion in cash from the bank’s accounts, which the EFCC described as a criminal breach of trust.

The anti-graft agency insists the transactions were carried out without proper authorisation and in breach of prudential guidelines, making them punishable under relevant provisions of Nigerian law.

Ayeni was reportedly arrested in Abuja in April and interrogated before being brought before the court.

The prosecution team, led by senior advocates, argued that the alleged actions formed a pattern of deliberate misappropriation of funds.

The case has drawn significant public attention, as it highlights ongoing efforts by authorities to clamp down on high-level financial crimes within Nigeria’s banking sector.