A former Director of Finance and Administration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Garuba Mohammed Duku, has been sentenced to 24 years imprisonment for money laundering.

The judgment was delivered on Friday by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who found Duku guilty on six counts of money laundering filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

After reviewing the evidence and testimonies presented during the trial, Justice Omotosho ruled that the ICPC had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Duku was convicted on all six counts and sentenced to four years on each count, bringing the total to 24 years. However, the sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve four years in prison.

In a plea for leniency, Duku’s counsel described him as a first-time offender, leading the court to grant an alternative — a fine of ₦1.6 billion, payable to the Federal Government in lieu of imprisonment.

The former FCTA finance chief was found guilty of illegally taking possession of ₦318 million belonging to his employer while serving as Director of Finance and Administration under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC).

Justice Omotosho ruled that Duku’s defense failed to justify how he came into possession of the funds, stating that his actions violated Section 18(2) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

He further directed that the convict should serve his sentence at Kuje Prison in Abuja if the fine is not paid.