Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission has arrested a godson of former President Goodluck Jonathan
for allegedly stealing N2bn from the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The EFCC said it traced deposits of N2bn paid into his bank accounts.
According to the commission, the
suspect, Mr. George Turnah, who is also a former Special Adviser to Mr.
Dan Abia, the erstwhile Managing Director of the NDDC, was arrested by
the Port Harcourt office of the commission.
The anti-graft agency said it had searched Turnah’s houses in Yenagoa and Port Harcourt and found some incriminating documents.
The EFCC said, “He was arrested in Port
Harcourt, Rivers State in connection with alleged possession of funds
running into N2bn, suspected to be funds siphoned from the NDDC while
serving there as an adviser. Turnah, widely believed to be a godson of
former President Goodluck Jonathan, served in the NDDC between 2012 and
2015.
“Preliminary investigations by the EFCC
threw up deposits made in his personal and company bank accounts in
excess of N2bn. A search conducted in his houses in Port Harcourt and
Yenogoa, yielded useful documents.
“Turnah has made useful statements to the EFCC and will be arraigned as soon as investigations are concluded.”
Turnah is not the only relative of the former President that is under investigation by the EFCC.
Jonathan’s cousin, Robert Azibaola and
his wife are currently facing charges before a Federal High Court in
Abuja for allegedly receiving $40m from the Office of the National
Security Adviser under the leadership of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.)
Azibaola, who has admitted receiving the money through his firm, said the money was for a special contract.
About five accounts with a combined
balance of over $20m belonging to Jonathan’s wife, Patience, has also
been frozen by the EFCC.
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