July 25, 2023
There is growing tension and uncertainty in the camp of the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, as preparation for the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa State gathers momentum.
It was gathered that top Sylva loyalists have decided to withdraw their support for his governorship ambition due to lingering internal crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, which is creating division, to key into the prosperity agenda of Governor Douye Diri
Those who may leave the party include the former Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarugu, Israel Sunny-Goli, immediate past member, House of Representatives for Nembe/Brass Federal Constituency, Irigha Brigidi, incumbent state lawmaker representing Nembe Constituency 2, Festus Daumiebi and former Environment Commissioner, Robert Ayalla Enogha.
According to party chieftains, they alleged that Sylva forced his candidacy on the party, imposing Joshua Maciver as his running mate without due consultations with other leaders and stakeholders.
They, however, decided to declare support for Diri’s re-election bid. Further investigations showed that the decisions to dump the APC and Sylva’s governorship ambition were also due to their exclusion in the affairs and decision-making process of the party.
They also alleged threat to life and violent conducts against loyalists, who voiced their reservations on the way the party is managed, as well as the shabby treatment they have been subjected to by Sylva and the party.
The poor handling of the Nembe-Bassambiri intra-communal crisis, which led to killings and loss of electoral votes during the last National Assembly elections, reportedly angered sunny-Goli.
It was also learnt that he was also dissatisfied by the way former Brass Council Chairman, Victor Isaiah, was welcomed into APC, handing him the political and operational leadership of the council despite unresolved issues against him during the events leading to the 2019 elections.
May 21, 2022
George Alabo Turnah, a former special assistant to Mr. Dan Abia, erstwhile Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment.
Justice A.T Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, handed out the sentence on Friday.
Turnah, was found guilty of failure to make full disclosure of his assets to the EFCC among other charges. He was arraigned, together with his wife, Jennifer Tinipre Turnah, on a four- count amended charge.
The EFCC accused him of obtaining money by false pretense, money laundering and abuse of office,
One of the counts read : “That you George Turnah Alabh on or about 15th March, 2017 at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, South/South Zonal Office, No, 6A Olumeni Street, Old GRA Off Forces Avenue, Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court knowingly failed to make full disclosure of your assets to wit: your interest in one of the Director and majority shareholder of Ashford Consult and Events Nig. Ltd in the Asset Declaration Form you filled at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) & (3)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (3)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004.
Count three read; “That you George Turnah Alabo on or about 15th March, 2017 at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, South/South Zonal Office, No, 6A Olumeni Street, Old GRA Off Forces Avenue, Port Harcourt within the Jurisdiction off this Honorable Court failed to furnish information of your interest as one of the Directors and major shareholder of Ashford Consult and Events Nig. Ltd in the Asset Declaration Form you filled at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) & (3)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (3)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004.”
Justice Mohammed found him guilty on counts 1 & 3 bordering on non-disclosure of assets, but discharged Jennifer on counts 2 and 4 on the grounds that the amended charge was not served on her properly in line with the law.
Turnah was sentenced to two years each on counts 1 & 3 for failure to make full disclosure of assets contrary to section 27 (1) & (3)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004 and punishable under Section 273)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004.
Turnah and his wife, Jennifer were first arraigned on the May 16, 2018 and re-arraigned on June 18, 2019 by the EFCC on four count charges bordering on failure to make full disclosure of assets and they pleaded “not guilty”.
In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, I. Agwu called several witnesses and presented several documents in court.
In his judgment, Justice Mohammed said that the prosecution established that the convict did not fully disclose his asset in the Asset Declaration form he filled at the EFCC.
Against his declaration, the court found out that he was one of the Directors and majority shareholder of Ashford Consult and Events Nig. Ltd.
