The Court of Appeal in Abuja has turned down the bail application filed by former Director of Finance and Administration of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Garba Dukku, who is serving a 24-year prison sentence over the diversion of public funds estimated at N319 million.
Dukku had asked the appellate court to grant him bail while it considers his appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission said the court ruled that the former FCTA official failed to show exceptional reasons that would justify granting him bail pending the outcome of his appeal.
The appellate court, however, ordered that the appeal should be heard on an accelerated basis.
The ICPC recalled that Dukku was convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja after he was found guilty on six counts of corruption and money laundering.
According to the commission, investigations and evidence presented during the trial established that between 2012 and 2013, the former finance director diverted N318.25 million belonging to the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council into his personal bank account before the money was transferred to Bureau de Change operators in separate transactions.
The commission said Dukku’s claim that he handed the funds over to his superiors was rejected by the trial court because it was not backed by credible evidence.
Following his conviction, the trial court sentenced him to four years imprisonment on each of the six counts, amounting to a total jail term of 24 years. It also imposed fines totalling about N1.6 billion as an option.
Reacting to the judgment, the ICPC stated, “The ICPC welcomes the decision of the Court of Appeal refusing bail pending appeal and views it as a reaffirmation of the principle that applications for such relief must be supported by 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.”
