Dry Port: Court rejects bid to halt Ganduje’s prosecution

A Kano State High Court has dismissed a legal challenge against the authority of the prosecution in the criminal trial of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje over the alleged fraudulent transfer of the state’s equity in Dala Inland Dry Port.

Justice Yusuf Ubale of State High Court No. 2, sitting at the Audu Bako Secretariat Complex, on Tuesday upheld the validity of the fiat authorising the Kano State Government’s prosecution team to appear in the matter, rejecting defence arguments that the document was issued for an entirely different case and that all prior proceedings should consequently be set aside.

Mr Ganduje’s counsel, Aminu Gadanya (SAN), had mounted the fiat challenge in February, arguing that its deficiency stripped the prosecution of the legal standing to litigate the case.

Prosecuting counsel Muhuyi Magaji described the challenge as unnecessary after Tuesday’s ruling, maintaining that such administrative questions fall within the exclusive purview of the attorney-general and that the court had now confirmed the prosecution team was properly constituted.

The ruling, however, did not immediately unblock proceedings. Several defence applications remain pending before the court, and the defence indicated it was unprepared to argue them.

Muhammad Abdallah, counsel to defendant Abubakar Bawuro, confirmed the defence sought an adjournment on grounds of unreadiness.

Justice Ubale granted it but cautioned all parties against further procrastination, adjourning the matter to 24 June for the hearing of all outstanding applications.

Mr Ganduje is standing trial alongside Mr Bawuro, his lawyer Adamu Aliyu-Sanda, and former Nigerian Shippers’ Council Managing Director Hassan Bello on a 10-count charge of criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, breach of trust, conflict of interest, and abuse of office.

The Kano State Government alleges the four conspired to fraudulently transfer 80 per cent of Dala Inland Dry Port’s shares — including the state’s 20 per cent equity — to a private entity registered as City Green Enterprise, while diverting over N4.49 billion in public funds to finance infrastructure projects at the port, including a dual carriageway, electricity installations, and perimeter fencing, for personal benefit.

A Premium Times investigation had earlier established that at an Annual General Meeting on 5 March 2020, held at the port’s Zaria Road office in Kano, Mr Ganduje’s three children — Abdulaziz Abdullahi Umar, Umar Abdullahi Umar, and Muhammad Abdullahi Umar — were appointed directors and allotted five million shares each, equivalent to 20 per cent of the company’s 25 million total shares.

Mr Bawuro and founder Ahmad Rabiu received identical allotments, producing a five-way equal ownership structure that extinguished the state government’s stake in the company.
The state maintains that the divestment bypassed due process and that Mr Ganduje leveraged his office to undermine its interests.