The Court of Appeal in Abuja has refused an application for bail pending appeal filed by a retired Director of Finance and Administration with the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr. Garba Mohammed Dukku, who is serving a 24-year prison sentence for corruption and money laundering involving the diversion of about N319 million in public funds.
According to an official statement signed by the Head of Media and Public Communications of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), J. Okor Odey, the appellate court held that Dukku failed to establish exceptional circumstances that would justify the exercise of its discretion to grant bail pending the determination of his appeal.
The statement said the court consequently refused the application but granted an accelerated hearing of the substantive appeal to ensure the matter is determined expeditiously.
Dukku was convicted by the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, on six counts of corruption and money laundering in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022.
According to the statement, the ICPC established during the trial that between 2012 and 2013, Dukku fraudulently diverted N318.25 million belonging to the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council into his personal Fidelity Bank account in several tranches, including N56.25 million, N71 million, N53 million, N54 million, N46 million and N36.3 million.
The Commission also proved that the diverted funds were subsequently transferred to Bureau de Change operators for unauthorised purposes.
The statement noted that although Dukku claimed during the trial that he handed the funds over to his superiors, the Federal High Court rejected the defence for lack of credible evidence and held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Omotosho subsequently sentenced him to four years’ imprisonment on each of the six counts, bringing the cumulative sentence to 24 years. The court also imposed an option of fine equivalent to five times the amount involved in each count, totalling approximately N1.6 billion.
According to the statement, the ICPC welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision, describing it as a reaffirmation of the principle that applications for bail pending appeal must be supported by exceptional and compelling circumstances.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to the diligent prosecution of corruption cases and the protection of public resources from abuse and misappropriation.
