A former Special Assistant to the immediate past Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dan Abia, George Turnah Alabh, has lost his appeal against his conviction over non-disclosure of assets.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday upheld the conviction and sentence handed down by the trial court against Alabh.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Peter C. Obiorah dismissed the appeal and affirmed the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, holding that the appellant was properly served with the charge sheet and that the charges did not amount to an abuse of court process despite a related civil suit filed by the defendant.
Justice Obiorah further held that the prosecution successfully proved that Alabh failed to disclose his interest in Ashford Consult and Events Nigeria Limited in the asset declaration form he completed at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, office during investigations into allegations of money laundering and obtaining by false pretence.
Alabh was arraigned by the EFCC in 2017 on a four-count charge bordering on money laundering, obtaining by false pretence and abuse of office before Justice A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
One of the charges stated that Alabh, on March 15, 2017, at the EFCC South-South Zonal Office in Port Harcourt, knowingly failed to fully disclose his assets by omitting his position as a director and majority shareholder of Ashford Consult and Events Nigeria Limited in the asset declaration form he filled.
The trial court, on May 20, 2022, found him guilty on counts one and three relating to non-disclosure and failure to fully disclose assets, contrary to Section 27(1) and (3)(a) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004. He was subsequently sentenced to two years imprisonment on each count.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, Alabh, through his counsel, Dr. A.G.O. Agorondi, filed an appeal in September 2023, challenging the decision of the lower court. However, the appellate court dismissed the appeal and upheld the conviction and sentence.
