George Turnah to Spend 2 Years in Jail as Appeal Court Upholds Conviction
By Passman Akpos
The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt has upheld the conviction and prison sentence of George Turnah Alabh, a former Special Assistant to the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dan Abia, over failure to fully disclose his assets.
Justice Peter C. Obiorah, who delivered the lead judgment on Thursday, May 14, 2026, dismissed Alabh’s appeal and affirmed the earlier ruling of the trial court, holding that he was properly served with the charge sheet and that the case was not an abuse of court process despite a parallel civil suit filed by the defendant.
The appellate court further ruled that the prosecution successfully proved that Alabh deliberately failed to disclose his interest in Ashford Consult and Events Nig. 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 under false pretence.
George Turnah Alabh had been arraigned by the EFCC in 2017 before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on a four-count charge bordering on money laundering, obtaining by false pretence, abuse of office, and non-disclosure of assets. He pleaded not guilty to all charges before Justice A.T. Mohammed.
One of the charges stated that on March 15, 2017, at the EFCC South/South Zonal Office in Port Harcourt, Alabh knowingly failed to make full disclosure of his assets by omitting his role as a director and majority shareholder of Ashford Consult and Events Nig. Ltd in the asset declaration form submitted to investigators
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, offences 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 verdict, Alabh approached the Court of Appeal in September 2023 through his counsel, Dr. A.G.O. Agorondi, seeking to overturn the judgment.
However, the appellate court’s decision has now sealed his conviction, marking another major legal setback for the former NDDC aide in a case that has drawn public attention over accountability and transparency in public office.
