Aide of Ex-NDDC Boss Jailed  Two Years over N2.9bn Fraud

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, has slammed two years imprisonment on a former Special Adviser to erstwhile Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dan Abia,  George Turnah, and two others, accused of N2.9billion fraud.

Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court convicted and sentenced Turnah, Ebis Orubebe and Uzorgor Silas Chidebere, for obtaining money under false pretence, money laundering, conversion of funds and forgery contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

In his ruling, Justice Mohammed found the convicts guilty of charges preferred against them by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The defendants were arraigned by the EFCC in May, 2017 and re- arraigned on January 25, 2021 on 23-count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, money laundering and abuse of office to the tune of N2, 894,  500, 000.

Parts of the counts 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 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 (NDDC) 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.

“That you George Turnah Alabh in 2014 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did receive the sum of $1000,000 (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”.

After they pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, the prosecution counsel, I. Agwu, called several witnesses and tendered documents to prove the case against the defendants.

Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced them to two years imprisonment each, starting from the date of their arrest. The 1st defendant was ordered to pay N1, 000, 000  as an option of fine, while the 2nd and 3rd defendants are to pay N500,000, into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 Additionally,  the 4th, 6th and 10th defendants are to return the sum of N180,000,000. Other restitutions include,  N5,000,000, traced to the 1st convict,  N100,000,000  traced to the 6th and 10th convicts,  N50,000,000 traced to Optimal  Sandard.  They are to be forfeited to the NDDC.

Others are: N46,760,843.61,  N494,371.86, N13,000,000 and N23, 500,000 to be forfeited to the NDDC by the 9th, 4th , 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.