Retired Abuja AMMC Director Sentenced to 24 Years for ₦318 Million Fraud

In a landmark ruling, a Federal High Court in Abuja has handed down a 24-year prison sentence to Mr. Garuba Mohammed Duku, a retired Director of Finance and Administration at the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), for diverting ₦318 million in public funds.

Presided over by Justice James Omotosho, the court found Duku guilty on all six counts of corruption and money laundering, delivering a verdict that underlines the judiciary’s firm stance against financial misconduct in the public sector. The judgment followed a meticulous trial where the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) presented irrefutable evidence establishing that between 2012 and 2013, Duku hijacked funds allocated to the AMMC by transferring multiple payments totaling ₦318,250,000 into his personal Fidelity Bank account.

The fraudulently obtained amounts were paid out in installments of ₦56.25 million, ₦71 million, ₦53 million, ₦54 million, ₦46 million, and ₦36.3 million. Investigations revealed that these monies were then moved through Bureau de Change operators, ostensibly on unauthorised transactions, thereby constituting extensive money laundering activities.

During the trial, Duku claimed that the funds were disbursed on the instructions of his superiors. However, the court dismissed this defense due to lack of evidence, affirming that the defendant’s actions were a clear violation of public financial regulations and an abuse of office. Justice Omotosho described the prosecution’s evidence as credible, consistent, and sufficient to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

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Consequently, the judge sentenced Duku to four years imprisonment for each of the six counts, to run concurrently. Moreover, the court gave an alternative option of a fine totaling approximately ₦1.6 billion—five times the amount involved in each count—reflecting the severity of the offense.

The ICPC, through its Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Mr. Demola Bakare, hailed the verdict as a significant victory in the ongoing fight against corruption in Nigeria’s public service. Bakare emphasized that the judgment sends a strong message that no public officer is above the law and that financial impropriety will attract severe consequences.

This conviction adds to a growing list of recent ICPC successes in prosecuting senior public officials, reinforcing efforts to ensure accountability and restore public trust in government institutions.