By Chimezie Godfrey
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has refused an application for bail pending appeal filed by a former Director of Finance and Administration of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Garba Mohammed Dukku, who was sentenced to 24 years imprisonment for diverting about N319 million in public funds.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in a statement on Thursday by its Head of Media and Public Communications, John Okor Odey, said the appellate court held that Dukku failed to establish exceptional circumstances that would justify granting him bail while his appeal is pending.
According to the commission, although the court declined the bail request, it ordered an accelerated hearing of the substantive appeal to ensure its speedy determination.
The ICPC recalled that Dukku was convicted by the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, on six counts bordering on corruption and money laundering in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CR/608/2022.
The commission said it proved during the trial that between 2012 and 2013, the former FCTA director diverted N318.25 million belonging to the AMMC into his personal Fidelity Bank account in several tranches, including N56.25 million, N71 million, N53 million, N54 million, N46 million and N36.3 million.
The anti-graft agency further established that the funds were later transferred to Bureau de Change operators for unauthorised transactions.
It said Dukku had claimed during the trial that he handed the money over to his superiors, but the trial court rejected the defence, holding that it was not supported by credible evidence and that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Omotosho subsequently sentenced him to four years imprisonment on each of the six counts, bringing the cumulative jail term to 24 years. The court also imposed an option of fine amounting to about N1.6 billion, representing five times the sum involved in each count.
Reacting to the latest ruling, the ICPC described the Court of Appeal’s decision as a reaffirmation of the principle that bail pending appeal can only be granted where exceptional and compelling circumstances are established.
The commission reiterated its commitment to the diligent prosecution of corruption cases and the protection of public resources from abuse and misappropriation.
Appeal Court Denies Bail to Ex-FCTA Director Jailed for N319m Fraud
