The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Mr. Garuba Mohammed Duku, a retired Director of Finance and Administration with the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), to 24 years in prison for corruption and money laundering involving ₦318 million.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in a statement on Thursday said Mr. Duku was convicted on a six-count charge of fraud and money laundering filed by the Commission in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022.
Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the case, found the former director guilty after the ICPC proved that he fraudulently diverted public funds belonging to AMMC into his personal Fidelity Bank account between 2012 and 2013.
Investigations revealed that Mr. Duku received multiple payments totaling ₦318,250,000, with individual tranches of ₦56.25 million, ₦71 million, ₦53 million, ₦54 million, ₦46 million, and ₦36.3 million. The funds were reportedly transferred to Bureau de Change operators and used for unauthorized purposes.
According to ICPC, the defendant’s financial transactions violated government financial regulations. The Commission also dismissed his defense that the funds were distributed to his superiors, noting that no evidence supported the claim.
In his judgment, Justice Omotosho held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court sentenced Mr. Duku to four years imprisonment on each of the six counts or, alternatively, to pay fines amounting to five times the value of each count — totaling about ₦1.6 billion. The sentences are to run concurrently.
The ICPC said the conviction reflects its determination to ensure accountability among public servants and to prosecute individuals who divert public funds for personal gain.
“This conviction underscores ICPC’s unwavering commitment to holding public officers accountable and ensuring that those who betray the public trust through corrupt practices are brought to justice,” the Commission stated.
