The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of an ATM card theft and fraud syndicate and recovered 16 ATM cards belonging to different banks and individuals.

The suspects, identified as 39-year-old Timilehin Akinola, 46-year-old Ojo Peter and 35-year-old Ademola Akinware, were arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Ado-Ekiti.

The suspects were reportedly sighted at the ATM gallery of Wema Bank, Okesa Branch, Ado-Ekiti, following intelligence received by the police.

According to the command, the suspects attempted to escape on a TVS motorcycle after noticing the presence of the operatives. They were, however, chased and intercepted in the Basiri area of the city.

Preliminary investigations showed that the suspects allegedly specialised in swapping and stealing ATM cards from unsuspecting customers at ATM points and subsequently using the cards to withdraw money from their victims’ accounts.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, confirmed the arrest, saying the suspects were intercepted after a hot pursuit.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Falade Adegoroye Michael, has ordered a further investigation to identify other members of the alleged syndicate and determine the extent of their activities.

The police also advised members of the public to remain vigilant when using ATM facilities and report suspicious persons or activities around ATM points to security agencies.

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.