A team of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) has ransacked the palatial home of George Turnah, popularly
known as the godson to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The fierce-looking operatives reportedly stormed
the courtyard of Turnah located at Kolo Creek, Ogbia local government area with
scores of fully-armed mobile policemen and soldiers.
They were said to have
arrived the courtyard at
about 5pm on Friday and painstakingly searched various buildings and rooms in
the premises till about 10pm.
Though there was no clue that money was recovered
from the house, the team were said to have carted away cheque books and
financial documents.
The commission was said to be investigating an
alleged multiple cases of corrupt enrichment against Turnah and his involvement
in disappearance of money allocated to the Niger Delta Development Commission
(NDDC).
It was learnt the 33-year-old Turnah fled his
multi-billion naira Kolo Creek Villa built with a gold-plated fence and gate
along the Ogbia town road few minutes before arrival of the EFCC.
His whereabouts were unknown with all his
telephone numbers switched off.
When our correspondent visited the Kolo Creek
Villa, about 45 minutes drive from Yenagoa, the compound was filled with solemn
voices of a church congregation wafting from one of the buildings.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of
Ogbia and two police officers in mufti visited the villa to debrief one of the
stewards.
A source from the building confirmed the EFCC
team spent about six hours to search different parts of the buildings.
He said: “It was a scary sight because many
mobile policemen and soldiers were involved in the operation.
“They took over the premises and the road and
conducted thorough search each room.
“They broke some doors and used keys to open
others. They carted away cheque books and other financial documents.
“But I am not aware that money was recovered from
the house. Our master left the house a few minutes before they came”.
Turnah, who graduated from the Law Faculty of the
Niger Delta University (NDU) in 2009, warmed himself into the heart of Jonathan
when he founded the Jonathan Youth Vanguard popularly called Joy 2011, a
platform he used to mobilise support for Jonathan.
Jonathan conferred on him the Member of the Order
of the Niger (MON) award and was appointed a Special Assistant on Youth Matters
to the Managing Director of (NDDC) in 2012.
Following the exit of Jonathan in 2015, Turnah
floated a conglomerate, El-Godams and Celtic Group of Companies with
investments in transport, agriculture and sports among others.
thenation
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