The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has secured the conviction of Mr. Garuba Duku, a retired Director of Finance and Administration at the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, over the fraudulent diversion of ₦318 million. Duku was sentenced to 24 years in prison by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the commission’s Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Mr. Demola Bakare.
According to the statement, the conviction followed a six-count charge of corruption and money laundering filed against Duku in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022. The case was presided over by Justice James Omotosho, who found the former finance director guilty on all counts.
“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 had handed the funds over to his superiors. However, the court dismissed the claim, citing a lack of evidence.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho stated that “The prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt,” adding that the ICPC presented “credible, consistent, and sufficient” evidence to establish the offences charged.
“Consequently, the judge sentenced Duku 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 — amounting to about ₦1.6 billion. The sentences are to run concurrently,” the statement added.
Reacting to the verdict, Bakare described the conviction as a significant victory in the commission’s anti-corruption drive.
“This judgment underscores ICPC’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that public officers who betray the trust reposed in them are brought to justice,” Bakare said.
“No one entrusted with public funds is above the law, and this conviction sends a strong message that corruption will not go unpunished.”
Bakare further assured that the ICPC would continue to handle corruption cases with diligence and professionalism to protect public resources.
In recent years, the ICPC has secured several high-profile convictions. In May 2024, a commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Christopher Oluchukwu, was jailed for defrauding job seekers. Similarly, in May 2019, former ICPC board nominee Dr. Saad Alanamu and Salman Sulaiman were sentenced to 24 years in prison for bribery-related offences.
