Ex-FCTA director sentenced over ₦318 million fraud

Ex-FCTA director sentenced over ₦318 million fraud

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced 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), to 24 years imprisonment for corruption and money laundering involving ₦318 million.

Justice James Omotosho found Duku guilty on six counts brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022. He was sentenced to four years for each count, with the terms to run concurrently. The court also gave him an option to pay a fine calculated at five times the amount involved in each count, totalling about ₦1.6 billion, instead of serving the prison term.

Investigations showed that between 2012 and 2013, Mr. Duku diverted ₦318,250,000 belonging to AMMC into his personal account at Fidelity Bank. The funds came in several tranches: ₦56.25 million, ₦71 million, ₦53 million, ₦54 million, ₦46 million, and ₦36.3 million. These were later transferred through Bureau de Change operators and spent for unauthorised purpose. Duku’s defense that the money was disbursed on instruction from his superiors was rejected by the court due to lack of supporting evidence.

Justice Omotosho held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt using documentary evidence and witness testimony. The imprisonment term will start from October 3, 2025.