EFCC BEGINS PROSECUTION OF SPECIAL ADVISER TO ONE-TIME MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NIGER DELTA COMMISSION IN PORT HARCOURT.

The Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned George Turnah former Special Adviser to Dan Abia, erstwhile Managing Director of Niger Delta Commission NDDC, and two others alongside nine Companies before Justice Mohammed Turaki of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.

The defendants were re-arraigned on an amended twenty-three count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering and abuse of office to the tune of Two Billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira.

          The co-defendants with Turnah are Ebis Orubebe and Uzorgo Silas Chidiebere, while the companies included, El-Godams Global Services Ltd, Turnoil and Gas Nigeria Limited- Kolo Creek Petroleum Development Ltd, Celtic Pride Consult and Events Yenagoa Mall Ltd.

Other Companies also arraigned in the suit are the Incorporate Trustees of Concerned Niger Delta Initiative, Akara Boro Marine Services Ltd, Sugarland Integrated Farms Nigeria Ltd and Geohan Telecommunication Nigeria Ltd and others at large.

The companies were said to have obtained the sum of Seven Hundred and Eight Million, Five Hundred Naira under fake pretence from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, purportedly for the purpose of providing quick win jobs for three hundred youths and women groups 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.

Our Crime Reporter, Wike Festus reports that all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and Justice Turaki granted them bail and adjourned the matter to March, 15, 16, 17, 2021.