Jonathan’s Godson, Turnah Arrested By EFCC Over Looted N2b NDDC Cash

BEVERLY HILLS, March 14, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested and taken into custody a political ally and godson of former President Goodluck Jonathan, George Turner, for allegedly pocketing over N2 billion suspected to have been siphoned from the account of the Niger Development Commission, NDDC.

Turner, who served as the Special Adviser on Youths to the erstwhile Managing Director of the NDDC, Dan Abia, was arrested on Tuesdayafter many failed attempts to get at him.

THEWILL recalls that officers of the EFCC, nine days ago, with scores of fully-armed mobile policemen and soldiers, ransacked the Bayelsa home of Turnah, located at Kolo Creek, Ogbia local government at and painstakingly searched various buildings and rooms in the premises.

Although there was no clue that any money was recovered from the house, the team were said to have carted away cheque books and financial documents having met Turner’s absence as reports indicate that the 33-year-old Law graduate allegedly fled his multi-billion naira Kolo Creek Villa built with a gold-plated fence and gate a few minutes before arrival of the EFCC.

However, he was arrested without notice by the security men in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Tuesday morning.

The Head of Media and Publicity in the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the arrest of Turner, said that the arrest was in connection with documents obtained from the suspect’s mansion and bank statements showing illegal inflow of over N2 billion when the man in question does not have a means of livelihood to justify such accumulation.

“Turner was arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in connection with alleged possession of funds running into N2 billion, suspected to be funds siphoned from the NDDC while serving there as an Adviser,” Wilson stated.

“Preliminary investigations by the EFCC threw up deposits made in his personal and company bank accounts in excess of N2 billion.

“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 founded the Jonathan Youth Vanguard popularly called Joy 2011, a platform which he used to mobilise support for Jonathan in the 2011 elections and was rewarded with the award of the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) Jonathan and appointed a Special Assistant on Youth Matters to the Managing Director of (NDDC) in 2012.