Court sentences ex-FCTA director to 24 years in prison over N318m fraud

The Federal High Court in Abuja, has sentenced Mr Garuba Duku, a retired Director of Finance and Administration with the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council under the Federal Capital Territory Administration, to 24 years in prison over a ₦318 million fraud.

This was according to the judgement delivered by Justice James Omotosho on Wednesday, who found him guilty on a six-count charge of corruption and money laundering filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPT) in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022.

The ICPC Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Mr Demola Bakare, disclosed this on Thursday.

“According to ICPC investigations, between 2012 and 2013, Duku fraudulently diverted ₦318,250,000 belonging to AMMC into his personal account with Fidelity Bank Plc.

“The court heard that the funds were received in several instalments — ₦56.25 million, ₦71 million, ₦53 million, ₦54 million, ₦46 million, and ₦36.3 million — and later transferred to Bureau de Change operators for unauthorized purposes.

ICPC prosecutors told the court that the transactions violated government financial regulations and that Duku’s actions were “a clear abuse of public trust”, the statement partly read.

The statement further said that during the trial, Duku had claimed that the funds were handed over to his superiors, but the court dismissed the claim for lack of evidence.

In his ruling, Omotosho held that “The prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt”, adding that the evidence presented by the ICPC “was credible, consistent, and sufficient to establish the offences charged.”

“Consequently, the judge sentenced Duku to four years’ imprisonment on each of the six counts or an option of fine equivalent to five times the amount involved in each count — amounting to about ₦1.6 billion. The sentences are to run concurrently,”, it added.

Reacting to the judgment, Bakare, described the conviction as a major victory in the commission’s fight against corruption.

“This judgment underscores ICPC’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that public officers who betray the trust reposed in them are brought to justice,” Bakare said.

“No one entrusted with public funds is above the law, and this conviction sends a strong message that corruption will not go unpunished.”

Bakare added that the commission would continue to pursue all cases of graft with diligence and professionalism to safeguard public resources.

The ICPC is one of Nigeria’s principal anti-corruption agencies, established in 2000. Its mandate includes investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption and public financial mismanagement under laws such as the ICPC Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

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