Airport arrest of key witness raises stakes in Ganduje-linked Dala Dry Port trial

A principal witness in the multi-billion-naira ownership dispute over the Dala Inland Dry Port has been arrested at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, escalating tensions around the ongoing criminal trial involving former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

The witness, Ahmad Rabiu, was arrested on Wednesday by plainclothes operatives of the Kano State Police Command while attempting to board an Air Peace flight to Abuja.

The arrest was confirmed by his aide, Hanif Umar, who said Mr Rabiu was intercepted at the boarding gate and prevented from travelling after the officers allegedly ordered the airline to cancel his flight.

At the time of his arrest, Mr Rabiu was reportedly in the company of Aminu Dabo, a prominent Kano politician and former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Mr Rabiu is a central figure in the criminal case filed by the Kano State Government over the controversial ownership restructuring of Dala Inland Dry Port Limited.

In a statement earlier made to his lawyers, Mr Rabiu had alleged that his life was under threat after he agreed to testify before the Kano State High Court in the matter.

The former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, alongside several co-defendants, is facing a 10-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, breach of trust, abuse of office and conflict of interest.

 Other defendants include Mr Ganduje’s aide, Abubakar Bawuro; his lawyer, Adamu Aliyu-Sanda; and the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hassan Bello.

On 14 January, Mr Ganduje filed a preliminary objection before State High Court No. 2 sitting at the Audu Bako Secretariat Complex, challenging the service of court processes on him.

He asked the court to set aside the order for substituted service, arguing that it was invalid, a nullity and ultra vires. His counsel, A.S. Gadanya, SAN, also opposed the state’s application seeking his arrest for failing to appear in court personally.

Presiding judge, Yusuf Ubale, granted the request to hear the preliminary objections and adjourned the case to 23 February for substantive hearing.

Reacting to Mr Rabiu’s arrest, the state prosecutor, Muhuyi Magaji, alleged that the action was aimed at intimidating and tampering with a key witness in the case.

READ ALSO: Days after APC exit, Ganduje appointed chairman of FAAN Board

He disclosed that the prosecution had lined up multiple witnesses, including government officials who were allegedly coerced or manipulated into signing documents that enabled fraudulent transfers of public assets to a private entity.

According to the Kano State Government, Mr Ganduje and the other defendants conspired to fraudulently transfer 80 per cent ownership of Dala Inland Dry Port — including the state government’s 20 per cent equity — to private hands under a fictitious company name, “City Green Enterprise.”

The prosecution further alleged that over N4.49 billion in state funds were diverted to provide infrastructure at the port, including a double-carriageway, electricity installations and perimeter fencing, for the personal and family benefit of the defendants.

Investigations by the state also revealed that Mr Ganduje allegedly used his position as governor to secretly divest Kano State of its 20 per cent stake in the dry port and transfer it to private ownership, making his children co-owners of the facility before approving infrastructure contracts worth more than N4 billion for the same project.

Corporate records show that when Dala Inland Dry Port Limited was incorporated on 8 December 2003, its only directors were Ahmad Rabiu and his son, Rabiu Ahmad Rabiu. In January 2005, the board was expanded to include four additional directors.

However, documents obtained by the prosecution indicate that on 5 March 2020, Mr Ganduje’s three children — Abdulaziz Abdullahi Umar, Umar Abdullahi Umar and Muhammad Abdullahi Umar — alongside his associate, Abubakar Bawuro, were appointed as new directors, replacing Mr Rabiu’s son and other board members.

Minutes of the company’s Annual General Meeting held that day confirmed that the Kano State Government was removed as a shareholder, while each of the Ganduje children was allotted five million shares, representing 20 per cent equity each.

The new ownership structure, comprising five shareholders with equal stakes, effectively eliminated the state government’s interest in the company. Kano State authorities insist that the divestment process violated due process and amounted to a deliberate abuse of office.