May 30, 2022
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 30, 2022, arraigned a former governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha, and six others before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on 17-count charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing, conversion of public funds and money laundering to the tune of N3,147, 000, 000( Three Billion, One hundred and Forty Seven Million Naira).
The former governor was docked alongside Anyim Nyerere (a.k.a Anyim Chinenye), Naphtali International Ltd, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Ltd, Consolid Projects Consulting Ltd, Pramif International Ltd and Legend World Concepts Ltd.
One of the counts read; “That you, Rochas Okorocha, Anyim Nyerere(a.k.a Anyim Nyerere Chinenye) and Naphtali International Ltd, on or about the 24th October, 2014, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N900,000,000 property of Imo State Government of Nigeria transferred from the Imo State Government House Account, which you all reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Same Act.
Another count read: “That You, Rochas Okorocha, Anyim Nyerere(a.k.a Anyim Nyerere Chinenye), and Perfect Finish Multi Projects Ltd, on or about 28th August, 2014, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N486,000,000(Four Hundred and Eighty Six Million Naira), property of Imo State Government of Nigeria, transferred from the Imo State Joint State Local government Project Account, which you all reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”.
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges when they were read to them.
EFCC counsel, G. K. Latona prayed the court to set a trial date and to remand the defendants in a Correctional Centre. However, defence counsel, Oke Amaechi, SAN, for the first defendant and Daniel. M. Uzorumba for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th defendants informed the court that they have filed applications for bail for all the defendants dated May 25, 2022. Latona, however, informed the court that he was served with a motion on notice of bail on May 26, 2022 and “we intend to respond; there were issues raised there concerning the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, we want to respond to that.”
Justice Ekwo remanded all the defendants in EFCC’s custody and adjourned the matter for hearing on bail application to May 31, 2022.
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.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Abdullahi Babalele, a son in-law to former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, in the 2019 general elections, Atiku Abubakar.
Mr Babalele was arraigned on Wednesday 14th August before Justice Nicholas Oweibo at a Federal High Court in Lagos, on a 2 count charge of alleged money laundering to which he pleaded; not guilty.
Mike Ozekhome(SAN), Counsed to Babalele has filed for this Bail application which will be heard tomorrow, Thursday. Meanwhile He will remain in EFCC custody.
According to the charge signed on behalf of the EFCC by its prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, Babalele committed the offence in February, 2019.
The two counts against Abdullahi reads;
COUNT 1: That you Abdullahi Babalele on or about the 20th day of February, 2019 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court. procured Bashir Mohammed to make cash payment of the sum of $140,000. 00 (One Hundred and Forty Thousand United State Dollars) without going through a financial institution, which sum exceeded the amount authorized by Law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
Count 2: That you Abdullahi Babalele on or about the 20th day of February,2019 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, aided Bashir Mohammed to make cash payment of the sum of $140,000. 00 (One Hundred and Forty Thousand United State Dollars) without going through financial institution, which sum exceeded the amount authorized by Law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
