ICPC: Convicted former AMMC finance director to remain in prison as appellate court orders accelerated hearing of appeal
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has refused an application for bail pending appeal filed by Garba Mohammed Dukku, a former Director of Finance and Administration at the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), who is serving a 24-year prison sentence for corruption and money laundering involving the diversion of about ₦319 million in public funds.
The appellate court held that Dukku failed to establish exceptional circumstances required to justify his release pending the determination of his appeal, but directed that the substantive appeal be heard on an accelerated basis.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and signed by its Head of Media and Public Communications, Mr. J. Okor Odey.
According to the Commission, Dukku had sought bail while challenging the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which convicted him on six counts bordering on corruption and money laundering and sentenced him to a cumulative 24 years imprisonment.
Delivering its ruling, the Court of Appeal held that the former public official failed to present compelling reasons that would warrant the exercise of its discretion in his favour.
“The Appellant/Applicant failed to show any exceptional circumstance to warrant the exercise of the Court’s discretion in granting bail pending appeal,” the court ruled while dismissing the application.
However, the court ordered an accelerated hearing of the substantive appeal to ensure its expeditious determination.
The ICPC recalled that Dukku was convicted by the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022, after the Commission successfully proved that he fraudulently diverted ₦318.25 million belonging to the AMMC into his personal Fidelity Bank account between 2012 and 2013.
According to the anti-graft agency, the diverted funds were paid into the account in several tranches, including ₦56.25 million, ₦71 million, ₦53 million, ₦54 million, ₦46 million and ₦36.3 million, before being transferred to Bureau de Change operators for unauthorised purposes.
During the trial, Dukku claimed that the money was eventually handed over to his superiors. However, the court rejected the defence, holding that no credible evidence was presented to support the claim.
Justice Omotosho subsequently sentenced the former director to four years imprisonment on each of the six counts, amounting to a cumulative jail term of 24 years, while also imposing an option of fine equivalent to five times the amount involved in each count, totalling about ₦1.6 billion.
Reacting to the latest appellate court ruling, the ICPC welcomed the decision, describing it as a reaffirmation of the legal principle that bail pending appeal is an extraordinary relief that can only be granted under exceptional and compelling circumstances.
“The Commission remains resolute in its commitment to the diligent prosecution of corruption cases and the protection of public resources from abuse and misappropriation,” the statement said.
The Commission reiterated its determination to continue pursuing corruption cases through due process as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and safeguard public resources in Nigeria.
