By Nkechi Eze
In a decisive move underscoring Nigeria’s intensifying anti-corruption drive, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of 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), over corruption and money laundering offences involving a staggering ₦318 million.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Enlightenment of the ICPC, Mr. Demola Bakare, the Commission announced that Mr. Duku was sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment by the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, after being found guilty on a six-count charge of corruption and money laundering in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022.
According to the ICPC, investigations revealed that between 2012 and 2013, the convicted former director fraudulently diverted a total of ₦318,250,000 belonging to the AMMC into his personal bank account domiciled with Fidelity Bank Plc. The Commission’s findings further showed that the sum was received through multiple illicit transfers, including ₦56.25 million, ₦71 million, ₦53 million, ₦54 million, ₦46 million, and ₦36.3 million, all of which were traced to Bureau de Change operators and expended on unauthorized transactions.
During the trial, the ICPC successfully demonstrated that the defendant’s handling of the funds grossly violated established financial regulations governing public service operations. The Commission also debunked Duku’s claims that the funds were disbursed to his superiors, as he failed to provide any evidence to substantiate his allegations.
Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, affirming that the overwhelming documentary and oral evidence presented by the ICPC left no room for ambiguity. The court subsequently convicted Mr. Duku on all six counts, sentencing him to four years’ imprisonment on each count or, alternatively, to pay a fine equivalent to five times the amount stated in each charge, amounting to roughly ₦1.6 billion. The sentences, however, are to run concurrently.
The conviction, the ICPC noted, represents another significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to enforce transparency, integrity, and accountability within Nigeria’s public institutions.
The Commission reaffirmed that it remains steadfast in ensuring that no public officer who betrays the public trust escapes justice.
“This conviction underscores ICPC’s unwavering commitment to holding public officers accountable and ensuring that those who exploit their positions for personal gain face the full weight of the law,” the statement concluded.
