By Yemi Shola
A retired Director of Finance and Administration with the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Garuba Mohammed Duku, has been convicted and to spend 24 years behind bars for corruption and money laundering involving the sum of ₦318 million.
The conviction was secured by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) following the arraignment of Garuba Mohammed Duku.
A statement by ICPC Spokesperson on Thursday said that the conviction and sentence was pronounced by the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, after finding Duku guilty on a six-count charge of corruption and money laundering filed by the Commission in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022.
Investigations by the ICPC revealed that between 2012 and 2013, the convict fraudulently diverted ₦318,250,000 belonging to AMMC into his personal account, which was domiciled at Fidelity Bank Plc.
Further findings showed that he received multiple payments totaling the said sum, including ₦56.25 million, ₦71 million, ₦53 million, ₦54 million, ₦46 million, and ₦36.3 million, which were subsequently transferred to Bureau de Change operators and expended for unauthorized purposes.
During the trial, ICPC successfully demonstrated that the defendant’s method of fund release and withdrawal was fraudulent and in violation of extant government financial regulations.
In the course of the trial, the Commission also refuted Mohammed Duku’s claim that the funds were disbursed to his superiors, as no evidence was produced to substantiate the assertion.
In his judgment, Justice Omotosho held that the totality of evidence and witness testimonies presented by the Commission proved the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Consequently, the court sentenced Mohammed Duku to four years’ imprisonment on each of the six counts, or an option of fine equivalent to five times the amount stated in each count, totaling approximately ₦1.6 billion. The sentences are to run concurrently.
This conviction underscores ICPC’s unwavering commitment to holding public officers accountable and ensuring that those who betray the public trust through corrupt practices are brought to justice in accordance with the law as contained in a statement signed by Demola Bakare, Director, Public Enlightenment and Education/
