Kano govt sues Ganduje, sons over N4.49bn port project

The Kano State Government has filed a suit before the State High Court, seeking to reclaim its 20 per cent equity stake in Dala Inland Dry Port Limited and recover funds allegedly misappropriated, to the tune of N4.49 billion. The defendants in the charge sheet include a former governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar […]

The Kano State Government has filed a suit before the State High Court, seeking to reclaim its 20 per cent equity stake in Dala Inland Dry Port Limited and recover funds allegedly misappropriated, to the tune of N4.49 billion.

The defendants in the charge sheet include a former governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; his sons, Umar Abdullahi Umar and Muhammad Abdullahi Umar; Abubakar Sahabo Bawuro, a former special adviser to Ganduje; Hassan Bello, former executive secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council; a legal practitioner, Adamu Aliyu Sanda, and Dala Inland Dry Port Limited.

They are facing a 10-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, breach of trust and conflict of interest.

According to court documents obtained by Weekend Trust, the defendants allegedly conspired to “fraudulently” transfer 80 per cent shares of Dala Inland Dry Port, including the Kano State Government’s 20 per cent equity to private entities under a fictitious name, “City Green Enterprise,” to conceal the true ownership of the company.

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The prosecution further alleged that the defendants diverted over N4.49 billion belonging to the state government for infrastructure projects, including a double carriageway, electricity and perimeter fencing at the dry port, allegedly executed for personal and family benefit.

They were also accused of abuse of office and conflict of interest by allegedly using their official positions to manipulate public resources for private gains, in violation of financial and constitutional provisions.

The charge sheet revealed that several key witnesses will testify in court, including the lead investigating officer who uncovered the alleged fraudulent transactions and an early stakeholder in the project who will testify on how he was allegedly sidelined during the equity transfer process.

The prosecution’s summary of evidence alleges that the defendants used sham entities and proxies to conceal ownership of Dala Inland Dry Port shares; diverted public funds to family-owned firms and personal businesses and coerced the original project founders into relinquishing control while retaining only nominal shares.

The case has been assigned to Kano State High Court 2, presided over by Justice Yusuf Ubale and is scheduled for hearing on November 17, 2025.