Ex-FCTA Director Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for ₦318 Million Fraud

Ex-FCTA Director Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for ₦318 Million Fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a 24-year jail term for Mr. Garuba Duku, a retired Director of Finance and Administration with the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), over a ₦318 million fraud.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the ICPC’s Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Mr. Demola Bakare.

The ICPC, established in 2000, investigates and prosecutes corruption and financial crimes under the ICPC Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

According to the statement, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, found Duku guilty on a six-count charge of corruption and money laundering filed by the ICPC in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022.

“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.

During the trial, Duku claimed he handed the funds to his superiors, but the court dismissed the claim for lack of evidence.

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

Consequently, Duku was sentenced 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, totaling about ₦1.6 billion. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Reacting to the judgment, Bakare hailed the verdict as a major win in the anti-corruption fight, saying:

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

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

He added that the commission will continue to pursue graft cases with diligence and professionalism to safeguard public resources.