RismadarVoice Reporters
May 15, 2026
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 ex-Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dan Abia, over non-disclosure of assets.
The appellate court, in a judgment delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter C. Obiorah, dismissed Alabh’s appeal and affirmed the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court.
Justice Obiorah held that the defendant was properly served with the charge sheet and ruled that the criminal case was not an abuse of court process despite a related civil suit earlier filed by the appellant.
The court 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 alleged money laundering and obtaining by false pretence.
Alabh was 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 and abuse of office.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
One of the charges accused him of knowingly failing to fully disclose his assets, particularly his role as a director and majority shareholder of Ashford Consult and Events Nigeria Limited, contrary to provisions of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004.
The trial court, presided over by Justice A.T. Mohammed, on May 20, 2022, found him guilty on counts one and three relating to non-disclosure and failure to fully declare assets.
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, seeking to overturn the conviction.
However, the Court of Appeal has now affirmed both the conviction and sentence imposed by the lower court.
