The Kano State Government has filed a lawsuit against former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, two of his sons, and several others before the State High Court over an alleged N4.49 billion fraud.
The suit seeks to recover the state’s 20 per cent equity stake in Dala Inland Dry Port Limited and to reclaim public funds totalling N4,492,387,013.76, which were allegedly misappropriated.
Filed on October 13, 2025, the case lists as defendants Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; his sons, Umar Abdullahi Umar and Muhammad Abdullahi Umar; Abubakar Sahabo Bawuro, his former Special Adviser; Hassan Bello, former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council; Adamu Aliyu Sanda, a legal practitioner; and Dala Inland Dry Port Limited.
The defendants face a ten-count charge, including criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, breach of trust, and conflict of interest.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired to fraudulently transfer 80 per cent of the dry port’s shares, including the state’s 20 per cent equity, to private interests under a shell company known as City Green Enterprise.
Prosecutors allege that the transaction was deliberately structured to conceal the true ownership of the port project, which was initially conceived to boost Kano’s economic infrastructure.
“The defendants deliberately hijacked a federal initiative and used proxies and fake entities to conceal the diversion of public assets meant for the people of Kano State,” the prosecution stated.
The prosecution further claims that over N4.49 billion in public funds was siphoned under the guise of infrastructure development at the dry port, including the construction of a dual carriageway, electricity, and fencing.
Government investigators allege that these projects were financed with state resources but designed to benefit private firms owned by the accused and their associates.
The summary of evidence indicates that the initial board of Dala Inland Dry Port Limited included a representative of the Kano State Government, one Abdullahi Haruna.
However, the alleged share transfer was said to have been executed unilaterally by former Governor Ganduje without the consent of other board members.
The case is expected to feature several high-profile witnesses, including the lead investigating officer and an early stakeholder who claims he was sidelined during the alleged takeover.
Also expected to be presented in court is a policy document from the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, reportedly confirming Kano State’s 20 per cent equity in the dry port project.
The fourth defendant, according to prosecutors, was tasked with verifying the state’s equity share, evidence the prosecution said will be central to the case.
Documents allegedly falsified to mislead regulators will also be tendered, along with evidence of a N750 million transaction channelled through Safari Textile Ltd.
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