The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, May 14, 2026, upheld the conviction and sentence of George Turnah Alabh, a former Special Assistant to the erstwhile Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dan Abia, in a case bordering on non-disclosure of assets and related financial offences.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Peter C. Obiorah dismissed the appeal filed by Alabh, affirming the decision of the trial court.

The court held that the defendant was properly served the charge sheet and that the case did not constitute an abuse of court process, despite a parallel civil suit filed by the appellant.

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The appellate court further ruled 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 submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during investigation.

Alabh was initially arraigned by the EFCC on a four-count charge bordering on money laundering, obtaining by false pretence, abuse of office, and failure to fully disclose assets.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges when first arraigned in 2017 before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice A.T. Mohammed.

One of the counts stated that Alabh, on or about March 15, 2017, at the EFCC South-South Zonal Office in Port Harcourt, knowingly failed to fully disclose his assets, specifically his interest as a director and majority shareholder in Ashford Consult and Events Nigeria Limited, contrary to Section 27(1) and (3)(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.

In its judgment delivered on May 20, 2022, the trial court found him guilty on counts one and three and sentenced him to two years imprisonment on each count for non-disclosure of assets and related offences under the EFCC Act.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Alabh appealed the decision in September 2023 through his counsel, Dr. A.G.O. Agorondi, challenging both his conviction and sentence.

However, the Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court’s judgment, effectively upholding the conviction.