Kano state authorities has dragged the speedy previous Governor, Dr. Abdullah Umar Ganduje, ex- Government Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Hassan Bello and 5 others to court docket over alleged diversion of over N4b state funds allotted as fairness at Dala Dry Land Port. In a felony Go well with No. KN/252/25, the state filed a 10-count cost bordering on felony conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, breach of belief, and battle of curiosity, difficult the integrity of the seven defendants.
Different defendants embrace Umar Abdullahi Umar and Muhammad Abdullahi Umar each sons of Ganduje; Abubakar Sahabo Bawuro, former Particular Adviser to the Governor; Adamu Aliyu Sanda; and Dala Inland Dry Port Restricted.
The prosecution accused the defendants of felony conspiracy and diversion of 20 per cent state fairness in Dala Dry Land Port funding to the tune of ₦4,492,387,013.76 to non-public use.
Within the cost sheet, obtained by The Guardian, the defendants allegedly conspired to fraudulently switch 80 per cent shares of Dala Inland Dry Port, together with the state authorities’s 20 per cent fairness, to non-public entities below the fictional identify “Metropolis Inexperienced Enterprise” to hide the true possession of the corporate.
The prosecution additional alleged that the defendants diverted over ₦4.49b of Kano State funds to execute infrastructure tasks corresponding to a double carriageway, electrical energy, and perimeter fencing on the dry port for his or her private and household profit, the cost sheet learn.
As well as, the defendants had been accused of abuse of workplace and battle of curiosity, with claims that they used their official positions to govern public sources for personal features, in violation of economic and constitutional laws, the cost sheet additional learn.
The prosecution, in a abstract of proof additionally alleged that the defendants used sham entities as proxies to cover possession of Dala Inland Dry Port shares, diverted public funds to family-owned companies and private companies. In line with the cost, the fraudulent act ensued after it coerced the unique venture founders into relinquishing management, whereas permitting them to retain solely nominal shares, created false paperwork and deceptive letters to deceive regulatory authorities, orchestrated a series of transactions, via Safari Textile Ltd (STL Enterprise), to facilitate the diversion of ₦N750 million in state funds.
In the meantime, the administration of Dala Inland Dry Port (DIDP) has refuted the media reviews linking ex-APC Nationwide Chairman Ganduje, to the possession of the corporate.
In a press release issued not too long ago by the Firm Secretary, Adamu Aliyu Sanda, who can also be one of many defendants, he described the reviews as false and malicious. Sanda insisted a verified information from the Company Affairs Fee (CAC) and board resolutions affirm that no member of the Ganduje household has ever been a shareholder, director, or signatory of the agency. The case has been mounted for November 17, 2025 earlier than Justice Yusuf Ubale of state Excessive Courtroom.
