Kano Govt Sues Ganduje, Sons, Others Over Alleged N4.49bn Fraud, Dry Port Share Transfer

The Kano State Government has filed a ten-count criminal suit against former Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, two of his sons, and five others, over the alleged misappropriation of N4.49 billion in public funds and the illegal transfer of the state’s 20 per cent equity in the Dala Inland Dry Port Limited.

The case, filed on October 13, 2025, before Justice Yusuf Ubale of the Kano State High Court 2, lists as defendants:

• Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje,
• Umar Abdullahi Umar and Muhammad Abdullahi Umar (his sons),
• Abubakar Sahabo Bawuro (former Special Adviser),
• Hassan Bello (ex-Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council),
• Adamu Aliyu Sanda (legal practitioner), and
• Dala Inland Dry Port Limited.

The defendants are accused of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, conflict of interest, and diversion of public assets through the fraudulent transfer of shares and the misapplication of funds meant for public infrastructure.

Alleged Diversion of State Assets

According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired to fraudulently transfer 80 per cent shares of the Dala Inland Dry Port — including Kano State’s 20 per cent equity — to a private shell company, City Green Enterprise, under the guise of a corporate restructuring.

Prosecutors claim the move was intentionally concealed to disguise the true ownership of the project, which was initially designed to stimulate Kano’s economy and enhance regional trade logistics.

“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 alleged.

Investigators further claim that over N4,492,387,013.76 in public funds was siphoned under the pretext of developing infrastructure at the dry port — including road construction, electricity, and perimeter fencing — but that these projects were executed to benefit private companies allegedly linked to the accused persons and their relatives.

“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,” said a source familiar with the investigation.

Key Evidence and Witnesses

Court filings indicate that the initial board of Dala Inland Dry Port Limited included a representative of the Kano State Government, Abdullahi Haruna, but that the controversial equity transfer was allegedly carried out unilaterally by Ganduje without the board’s consent.

“The prosecution will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the equity transfer was neither legal nor transparent. A governor cannot single-handedly transfer state assets into private hands,” the prosecution said.

The state’s legal team plans to call multiple high-profile witnesses, including the lead investigating officer and an early investor who was reportedly sidelined during the takeover.

Among the exhibits to be tendered are:

• A policy document from the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, confirming Kano’s 20 per cent stake in the dry port;
• Allegedly falsified incorporation documents; and
• Evidence of a ?750 million transaction routed through Safari Textile Ltd (STL Enterprise), purportedly used as a front company.

Government’s Position

A senior official at the Kano State Ministry of Justice said the case reflects the government’s commitment to accountability and public trust.

“The government is committed to accountability and the recovery of all looted funds and properties. This is about protecting public resources, not personal vendettas,” the official stated.

Efforts to reach Dr. Ganduje or his legal representatives for comment were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.