Former FCTA Director Sentenced to 24 Years Imprisonment for ₦318m Fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Mr. Garuba Duku, a retired Director of Finance and Administration with the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council under the Federal Capital Territory Administration, sentencing him to 24 years imprisonment for a ₦318 million fraud.

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

According to the commission, the judgment was delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who found Duku guilty on a six-count charge bordering on corruption and money laundering in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022.

Investigations by the ICPC revealed that between 2012 and 2013, Duku fraudulently diverted ₦318,250,000 belonging to the AMMC into his personal account with Fidelity Bank Plc. The funds were reportedly received in instalments of ₦56.25 million, ₦71 million, ₦53 million, ₦54 million, ₦46 million, and ₦36.3 million, and later channelled to Bureau de Change operators for unauthorized transactions.

Prosecutors told the court that Duku’s actions violated financial regulations and constituted a gross abuse of public trust. During the trial, the defendant claimed the funds were handed over to his superiors, but the court dismissed the argument for lack of evidence.

In his ruling, Justice Omotosho stated that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that the evidence presented was credible 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 approximately ₦1.6 billion. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Reacting to the judgment, Bakare described the conviction as a significant victory in the commission’s fight against corruption, emphasizing that it reaffirms the ICPC’s commitment to holding public officials accountable.

“This verdict reinforces the principle that no one entrusted with public funds is above the law,” Bakare stated. “The commission will continue to pursue corruption cases with diligence to protect public resources.”

The ICPC noted that it has recorded several similar convictions in recent years, including that of a former Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps commandant in 2024 and two former officials convicted for bribery in 2019.