The Kano State Government has initiated legal action at the Kano State High Court against former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his two sons, and several associates, seeking to reclaim the state’s 20 per cent equity share in Dala Inland Dry Port Limited and recover ₦4,492,387,013.76allegedly diverted from public funds.
Filed on October 13, 2025, the suit names as defendants Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; his sons, Umar Abdullahi Umar and Muhammad Abdullahi Umar; Abubakar Sahabo Bawuro, a former Special Adviser; Hassan Bello, ex-Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council; Adamu Aliyu Sanda, a legal practitioner; and Dala Inland Dry Port Limited.
The accused face ten counts 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 shares of the dry port—including the state’s 20 per cent equity—to private interests under a shell company known as City Green Enterprise.
Prosecutors allege the transaction was carefully concealed to mask the true ownership of the port project, which was originally intended to enhance Kano’s economic development.
“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.
Investigators claim that more than ₦4.49 billion was siphoned under the guise of developing the dry port’s infrastructure, which included a double carriageway, electricity installation, and fencing.
“These projects were funded with state resources but tailored to benefit private and family interests. This is not just a betrayal of public trust but a systematic looting of public wealth,” a source close to the investigation revealed.
According to the summary of evidence, the original board of Dala Inland Dry Port Limited included a representative of the state government, Abdullahi Haruna. However, the alleged share transfer was said to have been executed solely by Ganduje, without the approval of other board members.
“The prosecution will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the equity transfer was neither legal nor transparent,” said the prosecution. “Key board members were sidelined. A governor cannot single-handedly transfer state assets into private hands.”
The case is expected to feature several high-profile witnesses, including the lead investigating officer and an early stakeholder who claims to have been excluded during the alleged transfer.
Also to be presented is a policy document dating back to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, confirming Kano State’s 20 per cent stake in the project. The fourth defendant reportedly conducted a research verification of this equity, which the prosecution considers crucial evidence.
Additional evidence includes falsified documents purportedly used to mislead regulators and a ₦750 million transaction allegedly funneled through Safari Textile Ltd (STL Enterprise), believed to be one of several front companies.
Although a trial date has yet to be fixed, the case has been assigned to High Court 2 of the Kano State Judiciary, presided over by Justice Yusuf Ubale.
“The government is committed to accountability and the recovery of all looted funds and properties,” said a senior official at the Kano State Ministry of Justice. “This is about protecting public resources, not personal vendettas.”
Efforts to contact Ganduje or his legal representatives for comment were unsuccessful as of the time this report was filed.
What You Should Know
The lawsuit against former Governor Ganduje marks one of the most high-profile corruption cases in Kano’s history.
It centers on the alleged diversion of billions in public funds and the illegal transfer of state equity in a major infrastructure project. The outcome could reshape accountability standards in northern Nigeria.
