The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned former Chairman of the Board of Directors 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 Onwuegbuzie on Thursday on an amended 18-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and diversion of depositors’ funds.

The latest arraignment marks the third time the former bank chairman has taken his plea in the case. He was first arraigned on May 4, 2026, and re-arraigned on June 22, 2026, before Thursday’s fresh plea following further amendments to the charge.

He pleaded not guilty to all 18 counts.

According to the EFCC, Ayeni allegedly diverted billions of naira belonging to depositors while serving as Chairman of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, now Polaris Bank Limited.

One of the charges alleges that on November 20, 2014, Ayeni dishonestly misappropriated N3.113 billion from the bank’s suspense account by directing that the funds be transferred to the account of Misa Limited domiciled with Zenith Bank. The anti-graft agency contends that the transaction constituted a criminal breach of trust and violated his contractual obligations to the bank.

Another count accuses him of allegedly diverting N5.078 billion from the same suspense account on December 2, 2014, through a transfer to the account of Greenwich Registrars domiciled with Union Bank.

The EFCC maintains that the alleged transactions formed part of the N15.6 billion said to have been unlawfully diverted, contrary to Sections 311 and 312 of the Penal Code.

Following Ayeni’s plea, EFCC prosecuting counsel, Abba Muhammed, SAN, informed the court that the prosecution was prepared to open its case immediately and that its first witness was already present in court.

However, defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, opposed the commencement of trial, arguing that the prosecution had not provided the defence with the summary of the witness’s statement as required.

Responding, the prosecution told the court that the summary of the witness’s statement had already been filed together with the second amended charge.

In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the prosecution had complied with the necessary legal requirements and dismissed the defence’s objection.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to July 20, 22, and 23, 2026, for the continuation of trial.

The Osun State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper allegedly linked to a failed abduction attempt in Ijebu-Jesa, Oriade Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Osogbo. He said the suspect, Buhari Mutari, was apprehended in the Iseyin area of Oyo State following technical analysis and actionable intelligence by police operatives.

According to the Police Commissioner, Mutari is connected to the May 7 kidnap attempt at a settlement in Ijebu-Jesa, where the principal suspect, Umaru Adamu, had earlier been arrested and paraded.

Gotan added that officers recovered over two million naira in cash from the suspect, believed to be proceeds from ransom payments.

The Commissioner also announced the arrest of three suspected cultists and ritualists in Iree.

He said a small coffin and locally made charms were recovered during the operation.

One of the suspects, Busayo Joseph, reportedly confessed to being a member of the Alora Confraternity.

In a related development, the Command arrested eight other suspects for offences including stealing and unlawful possession of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

Commissioner Gotan assured residents that the Osun State Police Command remains committed to intensifying its operations against kidnapping, cultism, and other violent crimes across the state.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, before a Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged $2.63 million money laundering case.

Bodejo was brought before Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday on charges bordering on alleged violations of Nigeria’s Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges filed against him.

Following his arraignment, the EFCC, through its counsel, Wahab Shittu, asked the court to remand the defendant in custody and fix a date for trial.

Bodejo’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on June 30. He argued that the alleged offences are bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and urged the court to grant his client bail.

However, the EFCC opposed the application, relying on a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit. The anti-graft agency argued that Bodejo had previously been investigated by the Department of State Services (DSS) over other alleged offences and could commit further offences if released.

The prosecution also dismissed claims that the defendant was in poor health, maintaining that the injury cited by the defence was not recent and did not justify his release on medical grounds.

The EFCC further expressed concerns that Bodejo could interfere with witnesses if granted bail, although it asked the court to impose strict bail conditions should it decide to release him.

After listening to both parties, Justice Ekwo ordered that Bodejo remain in the custody of the EFCC pending the determination of his bail application.

The court adjourned the case until July 20 to rule on the bail request.

According to the charges, the EFCC alleged that on January 21, 2022, Bodejo accepted $200,000 in cash from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, in a transaction that exceeded the legal cash limit.

The commission also alleged that he received another $100,000 in cash from the same individual on October 26, 2022, as well as an additional $980,000 in separate cash transactions, all of which allegedly violated the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The EFCC said the alleged offences contravene Section 19(1)(d) of the Act and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same law.

The case is expected to continue after the court delivers its ruling on Bodejo’s bail application on July 20.