The Kano State Government has filed a major suit before the State High Court, seeking to recover its 20 percent equity stake in Dala Inland Dry Port Limited and reclaim over ₦4.49 billion allegedly misappropriated during the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
The suit, filed on October 13, 2025, lists as defendants Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his two sons, Umar and Muhammad Abdullahi Umar, former Special Adviser, Abubakar Sahabo Bawuro, former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Hassan Bello, legal practitioner, Adamu Aliyu Sanda, and Dala Inland Dry Port Limited.
According to court filings, the defendants face a 10-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, misappropriation of public funds, and conflict of interest.
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The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired to fraudulently transfer 80 percent of the shares of Dala Inland Dry Port — including the state’s 20 percent equity — to private entities under the name, City Green Enterprise, purportedly to conceal the true ownership structure of the company.
It further accused the defendants of diverting ₦4,492,387,013.76 from the state treasury to fund infrastructure projects such as a double carriageway, electricity installations, and perimeter fencing at the dry port — allegedly for their personal and family benefit.
The charge sheet also claims the accused persons abused their official positions to manipulate public assets for private gain, in violation of financial regulations and constitutional provisions.
Key witnesses expected to testify include the lead investigator who uncovered the alleged fraudulent transactions and a founding stakeholder in the dry port project who was reportedly sidelined during the equity transfer.
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Prosecutors say evidence will show that the accused used proxies and shell companies to disguise ownership, diverted funds through family-linked businesses, and produced forged documents to mislead regulators.
The prosecution also alleges that ₦750 million was funneled through Safari Textile Ltd (STL Enterprise) as part of the scheme.
The state government will rely on policy documents dating back to the Obasanjo administration, which confirm Kano’s 20 percent ownership in the dry port — a stake allegedly transferred without the consent of other board members and with the sole approval of then-governor Ganduje.
Although a hearing date is yet to be fixed, the case has been assigned to Justice Yusuf Ubale of the Kano State High Court No. 2.
Recall that the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission had on 5th October launched a fresh investigation into the alleged diversion of over N4 billion of the state fund to Dala Inland Dry Port after the state was allegedly shortchanged of its equity at the multi-billion naira investment by by former administration of Abdullahi Gandije.
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However, in a swift reaction to the allegations, the management of Dala Inland Dry Port limited had on 8th October, 2025, denied reports that members of the family of a former Kano Governor and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, are shareholders in the Company.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Dala Company Secretary, Adamu Sanda, described the reports as “false, misleading, and politically motivated.”
Sanda insisted that neither the Ganduje family nor the Kano State Government has ever owned a stake in the business.
