A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered a former director of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Mr. Ibrahim Duku, to refund the sum of ₦1.6 billion allegedly misappropriated during his tenure.
The judgment, delivered on Friday by Justice Hadiza Suleiman, followed a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing Duku of financial mismanagement and diversion of public funds meant for infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to court documents, the funds were allocated for road maintenance, environmental sanitation, and urban development projects within the Abuja metropolis between 2019 and 2021. Investigations revealed that large portions of the money could not be accounted for.
Justice Suleiman, in her ruling, declared that public office must be held in trust for the people, stressing that any breach of financial accountability cannot be condoned. She ordered Duku to refund the ₦1.6 billion to the federal government within a stipulated period or risk further legal sanctions, including possible confiscation of assets traced to him.
Reacting to the judgment, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale described the ruling as “a victory for transparency and accountability,” assuring Nigerians that the commission would intensify its efforts to recover looted funds.
Meanwhile, counsel to the former director, Mr. Abdulrasheed Musa, hinted that his client would appeal the ruling, insisting that the EFCC failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The case has sparked renewed debate on financial impropriety in public institutions, with civil society groups urging the government to strengthen oversight mechanisms in the FCT administration.
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