The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has launched a fresh investigation into former Kano State Governor and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, over allegations of diverting N4 billion in state equity tied to the Dala Inland Dry Port (DIDP) project.
The probe centers on claims that during Ganduje’s tenure as governor, N4 billion allocated for infrastructure development at the DIDP was converted into a 20 percent equity stake for the Kano State government.
However, sources allege that this equity was unlawfully transferred to private individuals under Ganduje’s authority, effectively stripping the state of its ownership in the multi-billion-naira project.
A reliable source told The Guardian that the transfer positioned Ganduje’s children as directors and shareholders, leaving the state with no stake in the port.
“The equity transfer effectively edged Kano out of the project’s ownership,” the source confirmed, noting that at the time of the contract award, the state was no longer a co-owner.
The investigation was triggered by petitions received by the anti-graft agency, prompting a deeper inquiry into the alleged mismanagement of funds.
The DIDP, a key logistics hub aimed at boosting trade in northern Nigeria, has been a focal point of controversy, with the state’s role in its development now under scrutiny.
In response, the management of DIDP has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling media reports linking the Ganduje family to the project’s ownership as “false and malicious.”
In a statement issued by Company Secretary Adamu Sanda, the firm clarified that Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) records and board resolutions show no member of the Ganduje family has ever been a shareholder, director, or signatory at DIDP.
“You cannot ‘remove’ an entity that never existed as a shareholder or director in the first place,” Sanda stated, dismissing the claims as a coordinated attempt to tarnish Ganduje’s reputation.
DIDP further explained that the company was originally owned by Ahmad Rabi’u and associates before Rabi’u invited City Green Enterprises (CGE) to invest in the dormant project. Rabi’u later consolidated all shares under his name, resigned other directors, and sold 80 percent to CGE, retaining 20 percent for himself.
The company emphasized that neither the Kano State government nor the Ganduje family was involved in these transactions, which were duly filed with the CAC.
Addressing claims of the state’s 20 percent stake, DIDP clarified that the Kano government only provided infrastructure support through a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative facilitated by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, not an equity investment.
The company urged the public to disregard the “false and misleading” reports and reaffirmed its commitment to transparent operations.As the investigation unfolds, the case adds to the mounting legal challenges facing Ganduje, who has previously been linked to other corruption allegations.
The outcome of the probe could have significant implications for his political standing and the broader anti-corruption efforts in Kano State.
The anti-graft agency is yet to release an official statement on the investigation’s progress, but public attention remains fixed on the high-profile case.
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