The Kano State government has dragged the immediate past Governor, Dr. Abdullah Umar Ganduje; ex-executive secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Hassan Bello; and five others to court for the alleged diversion of over N4 billion in state funds allocated as equity at Dala inland Dry Port.

In a criminal suit No. KN/252/25, the state filed a 10-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, breach of trust, and conflict of interest, challenging the integrity of the seven defendants.

Other defendants in the high-profile criminal suit before the state High Court include Umar Abdullahi Umar and Muhammad Abdullahi Umar, both sons of Ganduje; Abubakar Sahabo Bawuro, former Special Adviser to the Governor; Adamu Aliyu Sanda; and Dala Inland Dry Port Limited.

The prosecution accused the defendants of criminal conspiracy and diversion of 20 per cent of the state’s equity in the Dala Inland Dry Port investment, amounting to ₦4,492,387,013.76, to private use.

In the charge sheet, obtained by The Guardian, the defendants allegedly conspired to fraudulently transfer 80 per cent shares of Dala Inland Dry Port, including the state government’s 20 per cent equity, to private entities under the fictitious name “City Green Enterprise” to conceal the true ownership of the company.

The prosecution further alleged that the defendants diverted over ₦4.49 billion of Kano State funds to execute infrastructure projects, including a double carriageway, electricity, and perimeter fencing at the dry port, for their personal and family benefit, as stated in the charge sheet.

In addition, the defendants were accused of abuse of office and conflict of interest, with claims that they used their official positions to manipulate public resources for private gain, in violation of financial and constitutional regulations.

The prosecution, in a summary of evidence, also alleged that the defendants used sham entities as proxies to hide ownership of Dala Inland Dry Port shares, diverted public funds to family-owned firms and personal businesses.

According to the charge, the fraudulent act ensued after coercing the original project founders into relinquishing control while allowing them to retain only nominal shares, creating false documents and misleading letters to deceive regulatory authorities, orchestrating a chain of transactions through Safari Textile Ltd (STL Enterprise), to facilitate the diversion of ₦750 million in state funds.

Meanwhile, the management of Dala Inland Dry Port (DIDP) has refuted media reports linking the former APC National Chairman, Ganduje, to the ownership of the company.

In a recent statement, the Company Secretary, Barrister Adamu Aliyu Sanda, who is also one of the defendants, described the reports as false and malicious.

Sanda insisted that verified records from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and board resolutions confirm that no member of the Ganduje family has ever been a shareholder, director, or signatory of the firm.

The case has been fixed for November 17, 2025, before Justice Yusuf Ubale of the state high court.