Appeal Court upholds conviction of former NDDC official over asset non-disclosure

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, has upheld the conviction and sentence of George Turnah Alabh, a former Special Assistant to the erstwhile Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, Dan Abia, over non-disclosure of assets.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Peter Obiorah dismissed Alabh’s appeal and affirmed the decision of the trial court.

The appellate court held that the defendant was properly served with the charge sheet and that the criminal charge was not an abuse of court process despite a civil suit filed by him on the same matter.

Justice Obiorah also held that the prosecution proved that Alabh failed to disclose his interest in Ashford Consult and Events Nig. Limited in the asset declaration form he filled at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court said the declaration was made while he was being investigated for alleged money laundering and obtaining by false pretence.

Alabh, a former special assistant to Dan Abia, was arraigned by the EFCC in 2017 on a four-count charge bordering on money laundering, obtaining by false pretence and abuse of office.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges before the federal high court presided over by Justice A.T Mohammed.

One of the charges accused Alabh of knowingly failing to disclose his interest as a director and majority shareholder in Ashford Consult and Events Nig. Limited in the asset declaration form he completed at the EFCC office in Port Harcourt.

On May 20, 2022, the trial court convicted him on counts one and three relating to non-disclosure and failure to fully disclose assets.

The court subsequently sentenced him to two years imprisonment on each count under Section 27(1) and (3)(a) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, Alabh filed an appeal in September 2023 through his counsel, A.G.O Agorondi, challenging the conviction and sentence.