A former Director of Finance and Administration under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Garuba Mohammed Duku, has been sentenced to 24 years imprisonment for his involvement in a ₦318 million fraud.
Delivering judgment in Abuja, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court found Duku guilty on six counts of money laundering and corruption, brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to the ICPC, investigations revealed that between 2012 and 2013, the defendant diverted a total of ₦318.25 million from the FCTA’s accounts into his personal bank account at Fidelity Bank. The funds, which were meant for official purposes, were allegedly laundered through Bureau de Change operators and used for unauthorized transactions.
Justice Omotosho held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, noting that documentary evidence and witness testimonies clearly established the fraudulent transfers.
“The defendant abused the trust reposed in him as a public officer and used his position for personal enrichment,” the judge ruled.
For each of the six counts, the court imposed four years imprisonment, to run concurrently, amounting to a total of 24 years. However, the court offered an option of fine — five times the amount stated in each count, totalling approximately ₦1.6 billion.
During the trial, Duku claimed he acted on instructions from superior officers within the FCTA, but the court dismissed his defence, ruling that no credible evidence supported his claims.
The ICPC, in a statement following the verdict, described the judgment as a landmark victory in its ongoing efforts to rid the public service of corruption.
“This conviction demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that those entrusted with public funds are held accountable, regardless of their position,” the Commission stated.
The case, filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022, marks one of the most significant anti-corruption rulings within the FCTA in recent years.