Former Special Adviser to Dan Abia, the erstwhile Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, George Turnah, has been sentenced to prison.
George Turnah, a political godson of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, was sentenced alongside two others, Orubebe and Uzorgor Chidebere, to six years imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretence.
The Presiding Judge, Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt also convicted them of money laundering, conversion of funds and forgery.
This was contained in a statement by the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, and made available to newsmen on Monday.
“They were jailed on Thursday, September 7, 2023, having been found guilty of charges preferred against them by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“Count six of the charge reads: ‘that you, George Turnah Alabh, Uzogor Silas Chidiebere, El-Godams Global Services Ltd., Turnoil and Gas Nigeria Ltd, Kolo Creek Petroleum Dev. Ltd, Celtic Pride Consult and Events Ltd, Yenagoa Mall Ltd, the Incorporated Trustees of Concerned Niger Delta Initiative, Adaka Boro Marine Services Ltd, Sugarland Integrated Farms Nig. Ltd, Geohan Telecommunication Nig. Ltd and others at large, on or about the 24th day of November 2014, at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did take possession of the sum of Seven Hundred and Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N708,500,000.00) which you reasonably ought to know that the money was obtained by a false pretence from the Niger Delta Development Commission purportedly for the purpose of providing quick win jobs for 300 youths and women groups and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under 15 (3) of the same Act.
Count 23 of the charge reads: ‘that you George Turnah Alabh in 2014 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did receive the sum of $1000,000.00 (One Million United State Dollars) (at the exchange rate of N184 to a Dollar) cash from one Umar Lawal of Hakuri Global Concept exceeding the statutory limit without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.”
They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
The statement added that the prosecution counsel, I. Agwu, called several witnesses and tendered documents to prove the case against the defendants.
