In a decisive move against corruption, the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Mr. Garuba 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 the diversion of ₦318 million in public funds.
The conviction, announced on Thursday in a statement by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), marks another significant victory in the ongoing fight against financial crimes within Nigeria’s public sector.
Presiding judge Justice James Omotosho delivered the verdict in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022, finding Duku guilty on all six counts of corruption and money laundering. The court ruled that the ICPC had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, leaving no room for ambiguity regarding the accused’s culpability.
According to the ICPC’s findings, between 2012 and 2013, Duku fraudulently diverted a total of ₦318,250,000 belonging to the AMMC into his personal account with Fidelity Bank. The funds were allegedly received in multiple tranches and subsequently laundered through Bureau de Change operators to conceal their origin.
Duku’s defense that he had transferred the funds to his superiors—was firmly rejected by the court for lack of evidence. Justice Omotosho described the prosecution’s case as “credible, consistent, and convincing,” emphasizing that public servants must be held accountable for the stewardship of public resources.
The court handed Duku four years’ imprisonment on each of the six counts, to run concurrently, making it a total of 24 years behind bars. In addition, the judgment included an option of a hefty fine amounting to approximately ₦1.6 billion, representing five times the amount diverted from public coffers.
Reacting to the judgment, the ICPC’s Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Mr. Demola Bakare, commended the ruling as a landmark victory in Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts. He reiterated the Commission’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that public officials who misuse their positions for personal enrichment face justice.
“This judgment sends a strong message that corruption within the public service will not go unpunished,” Bakare stated. “It reaffirms our collective resolve to build a public sector founded on transparency, integrity, and accountability.”
The sentencing of Mr. Garuba Duku underscores the judiciary’s growing intolerance for corruption and financial misconduct in Nigeria’s civil service, signaling a renewed push toward restoring public trust in governance.
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