The political landscape in Kano has been shaken as the state government officially files a lawsuit against former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, two of his sons, and several associates over an alleged diversion of public funds worth ₦4.49 billion.
The suit, filed before the Kano State High Court on October 13, 2025, accuses the former governor and others of fraudulently transferring the government’s 20 per cent equity stake in Dala Inland Dry Port Limited to private interests. The state is seeking to reclaim both the equity and the allegedly misappropriated funds, totaling ₦4,492,387,013.76.
Those named in the suit include Ganduje’s sons — Umar Abdullahi Umar and Muhammad Abdullahi Umar — along with Abubakar Sahabo Bawuro, the former governor’s special adviser; Hassan Bello, a former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council; Adamu Aliyu Sanda, a lawyer; and Dala Inland Dry Port Limited itself.
Prosecutors allege that the defendants conspired to transfer 80 per cent of the dry port’s shares, including the state’s portion, to a shell company called City Green Enterprise — a move investigators say was meant to conceal the true ownership of the multi-billion-naira project.
According to the charge sheet, the former administration allegedly used state resources under the guise of infrastructure development — such as road construction, electricity supply, and perimeter fencing — to benefit private companies linked to the accused. The prosecution insists that these projects were executed with public funds but designed to enrich select individuals.
“The defendants hijacked a federal initiative intended for the economic benefit of Kano residents and turned it into a private venture,” part of the court document reads.
Evidence gathered by investigators shows that Abdullahi Haruna, who represented the Kano State Government on the board of Dala Inland Dry Port Limited, was not consulted before the alleged share transfer was executed by Ganduje.
The case is expected to feature several high-profile witnesses, including the lead investigator and an early investor in the project who claims to have been sidelined during the alleged takeover. Prosecutors will also present a policy document from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, which reportedly affirms Kano’s 20 per cent stake in the project.
In addition, the state government plans to tender forged regulatory documents and details of a ₦750 million payment allegedly routed through Safari Textile Ltd, which investigators believe was part of the fraudulent scheme.
Legal analysts describe the case as one of the most significant anti-corruption trials in Kano’s recent history, noting that it could set a new precedent for how states pursue the recovery of mismanaged public assets.