Alleged money laundering: Court sends former Skye Bank chairman Tunde Ayeni to trial

The Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday remanded former Syke Bank chairman Tunde Ayeni in Kuje Prison pending a decision on his bail application.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie gave the order after Ayeni’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji, SAN asked for a short date for the defense to move the bail application.

The judge adjourned the case to May 13, for the hearing on the accused’s bail application.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged Ayeni with 17 counts bordering on money laundering amounting to around $8 billion.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following his not guilty plea, the prosecuting lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho SAN, asked the court for a date for the trial to begin.

It also called on the Court to keep the accused in custody pending the start of the trial.

Ayeni’s lawyer Ahmed Raji SAN, however, told the court that the defense submitted the bail application today on behalf of Ayeni and served the prosecution the same.

According to him, the charge was served on the accused by the EFCC last Friday, May 1, which was a public holiday.

He urged the court to grant a short adjournment for moving the bail plea.

Raji informed the court that Ayeni was a lawyer with over 35 years of practice.

He then appealed to the court to release the accused to him (Raji) and Olalekan Ojo SAN, assuring that they would produce the accused in court on the next adjourned date.