The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a major victory in its anti-corruption campaign with the conviction of Mr. Garuba Duku, a former Director of Finance and Administration at the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), under the Federal Capital Territory Administration. Duku was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his involvement in a ₦318 million fraud.
According to an official statement from the ICPC, Duku was found guilty of a six-count charge related to corruption and money laundering. The charges were brought against him in a case heard at the Federal High Court in Abuja (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022). Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the case, confirmed that Duku’s actions had breached government financial regulations and constituted a significant abuse of public trust.
Details of the Fraud Scheme
Between 2012 and 2013, Duku diverted ₦318,250,000, belonging to AMMC, into his personal account with Fidelity Bank Plc. The funds were received in multiple transactions—₦56.25 million, ₦71 million, ₦53 million, ₦54 million, ₦46 million, and ₦36.3 million—and were subsequently transferred to Bureau de Change operators for unauthorized purposes.
The ICPC prosecutors emphasized that Duku’s actions were clear violations of financial regulations. During the trial, Duku claimed that the funds had been handed over to his superiors, but the court dismissed this defense, citing a lack of evidence to support his claim.
In delivering the verdict, Justice Omotosho stated, “The prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.” He affirmed that the evidence presented by the ICPC was “credible, consistent, and sufficient to establish the offences charged.”
Duku was sentenced to four years in prison on each of the six counts, with an option of a fine equivalent to five times the amount involved in each count. The total fine amount would have reached approximately ₦1.6 billion, though the sentences are to run concurrently.
Reacting to the judgment, Mr. Demola Bakare, the Director of Public Enlightenment and Education at ICPC, lauded the conviction as a significant step in the fight against corruption. He stressed, “This judgment underscores ICPC’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that public officers who betray the trust reposed in them are brought to justice.”
Bakare further emphasized that the ruling sent a strong message that no one entrusted with public funds is above the law. “Corruption will not go unpunished,” he stated.
Background
The ICPC, one of Nigeria’s principal anti-corruption agencies, was established in 2000 to tackle corruption and public financial mismanagement. The agency is responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption, particularly those involving public officials.
In recent years, the ICPC has successfully prosecuted several high-profile cases. In May 2024, the commission secured the conviction of a Commandant from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for defrauding individuals seeking employment for their children. Similarly, former Kwara State Polytechnic Chairman, Dr. Saad Alanamu, and businessman Salman Sulaiman were sentenced to 24 years in jail in 2019 for bribery offenses.
