The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a former Director of Finance and Administration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Garuba Mohammed Duku, to 24 years imprisonment for money laundering.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice James Omotosho found Duku guilty on six counts brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The court held that Duku unlawfully took possession of ₦318 million belonging to his employer while serving as Director of Finance under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC).

Justice Omotosho convicted him under Section 18 (2) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act after rejecting his defense.

He was sentenced to four years on each of the six counts, totaling 24 years. However, the judge ruled that the terms will run concurrently, meaning he will serve only four years in prison, beginning from October 3, 2025.

Following a plea for leniency and being a first-time offender, the court also gave Duku the option of paying a ₦1.6 billion fine to the Federal Government in lieu of serving jail time.

Justice Omotosho ordered that if the convict chooses imprisonment, he will serve his term at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.