George Turnah, a former aide to erstwhile Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that Turnah was convicted by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Friday.
The former Special Assistant to Dan Abia, was convicted for for obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering and abuse of office.
Turnah was under trial between 2017 and 2022 following his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
This was contained in a statement by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, Turnah was sentenced by trial judge, A.T Mohammed, on counts 1 and 3 for failure to make full disclosure of his assets in his disclosure to the anti-graft agency.
“Alabh was sentenced to two years each on counts 1 and 3 for failure to make full disclosure of assets contrary to section 27 (1) & (3)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004 and punishable under Section 273)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004,” the statement said.
The convict was arraigned together with his wife, Jennifer Turnah, on May 16, 2018, and re-arraigned on June 18, 2019, by the EFCC on a four-count amended charge.
However, both pleaded “not guilty” to the allegations.
Turnah was found guilty by the trial judge for failing to disclose his full assets as well as hiding his status as a Director and majority shareholder of Ashford Consults and Events Nig. Ltd.
Count one of the charges read: “That you George Turnah Alabh on or about 15th March 2017 at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, South/South Zonal Office, No, 6A Olumeni Street, Old GRA Off Forces Avenue, Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court knowingly failed to make full disclosure of your assets to wit: your interest in one of the Director and majority shareholder of Ashford Consult and Events Nig. Ltd in the Asset Declaration Form you filled at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) & (3)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (3)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004.
Count three read: “That you George Turnah Alabh on or about 15th March 2017 at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, South/South Zonal Office, No, 6A Olumeni Street, Old GRA Off Forces Avenue, Port Harcourt within the Jurisdiction off this Honorable Court failed to furnish information of your interest as one of the Directors and major shareholder of Ashford Consult and Events Nig. Ltd in the Asset Declaration Form you filled at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) & (3)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (3)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004.”
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