Kano State Government has instituted a fresh lawsuit against former governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and his two of his sons over an alleged N4.49 billion fraud related to the Dala Inland Dry Port Limited project.
The lawsuit, filed on October 13, 2025, before the Kano State High Court, seeks to recover the state’s 20 per cent equity stake in Dala Inland Dry Port Limited and reclaim public funds totalling about 4.5 billion.
The defendants in the case include: 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.
Read also: Kano govt sues ex-governor Ganduje, sons for ‘taking’ state’s stake in Dala dry port
The defendants face a ten-count charge, including criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, breach of trust, and conflict of interest, a court document seen by BusinessDay, Saturday, in Kano, indicated
Prosecutors allege that the defendants conspired to fraudulently transfer 80 percent of the dry port’s shares, including the state’s 20 percent equity, to private interests under a shell company known as City Green Enterprise. This transaction was allegedly structured to conceal the true ownership of the port project, which was initially conceived to boost Kano’s economic infrastructure.
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.
Evidence suggests that the initial board of Dala Inland Dry Port Limited included a representative of the Kano State Government, but the alleged share transfer was 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.
A policy document from the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, reportedly confirming Kano State’s 20 percent equity in the dry port project, is also expected to be presented.
Documents allegedly falsified to mislead regulators will also be tendered, along with evidence of a N750 million transaction channelled through Safari Textile Ltd.
The case has been assigned to Kano State High Court 2, presided over by Justice Yusuf Ubale, with a hearing fixed for November 17, 2025.
