Outdoor Billboard Owner Arrested In Enugu Over Offensive Campaign Adverts

Operatives of the Enugu Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested an outdoor Billboard owner over political advertisements that appeared in two billboards in Enugu bearing the name and logo of the Commission.

The two Super 48 Sheet Billboards located at Otigba and Zik Avenue Junctions in Enugu, bore offensive messages using the name of the EFCC to threaten the aspiration of some politicians in the state in the build-up to the 2023 general elections. One of the messages reads: 2023: Enugu PDP Learn From 2007 Election… EFCC IS COMING WITH KOBOKO ON CORRUPT CANDIDATES.

Following credible intelligence received by the Commission, operatives of the Commission on Saturday, May 21, 2022 arrested Baron Nnamdi, the alleged designer, printer and owner of the billboards hosting the offensive political campaign messages.

He has volunteered a statement to the Commission, claiming he was contracted by a media aide to a former deputy governor of the state with governorship ambition.

He claimed he was paid N160, 000 for the one week campaign and that the media aide to the former deputy governor supplied him with the messages, EFCC logo and pictures of Operatives used for the advertisement.

Following his arrest, operatives of the Commission visited the two sites and pulled down the offensive advertisements.

Meanwhile, the Commission warns politicians to play by the rule and refrain from dragging the EFCC into the political fray. It reiterates that, apart from issues of economic and financial crimes which fall within its purview, the Commission has no role in the political process and should not be distracted.

It stated further, that it will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law to bear on errant politicians who continue to impersonate the Commission and its operatives.

Court Jails George Turnah Four Years in Port Harcourt

Justice A.T Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday, May 20, 2022 convicted and sentenced a former Special Assistant to Mr. Dan Abia, erstwhile Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Goerge Turnah , to four years imprisonment.

This was contained in a statement on the Commission’s official website.

Alabh, who was prosecuted by the Port Harcourt’s Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, between 2017 and 2022, for obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering and abuse of office, was jailed for failure to make full disclosure of his assets in his disclosure to the EFCC. He was arraigned, together with his wife, Jennifer Tinipre Turnah, on four-count amended charges.

One of the count charges 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 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 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.

Alabh 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.

Alabh and his wife, Jennifer were first arraigned on 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 assets 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.