Category Nigeria News

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has launched a fresh probe into the alleged diversion of over ₦4 billion in state funds by the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje into the Dala Inland Dry Port (DIDP), despite reports suggesting that the state had been stripped of its equity stake in the project.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the funds were allegedly released in 2020 under the guise of infrastructural development for the inland port, even though Kano State’s purported 20% equity share had allegedly been transferred to members of the Ganduje family, making them directors and shareholders and effectively removing the state from co-ownership.

PCACC: Investigation Nearing Completion

Confirming the investigation, PCACC Chairman, Saidu Yahya, disclosed that the Commission acted on public petitions alleging large-scale financial misappropriation tied to the Dala project.

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“Yes, we received petitions from the public on the alleged over ₦4 billion Kano State fund diverted into the Dala Inland Dry Port by the immediate past administration of Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje,” Yahya said.

He noted that the investigation is at an advanced stage, with several persons of interest already invited for questioning. One individual has reportedly been arrested and released on bail after providing what the Commission termed “vital information.”

Another key individual connected to the probe is said to be residing in Yola, Adamawa State, and efforts are underway to bring them in for questioning.

“The matter would soon be charged to court, as a prima facie case has already been established,” Yahya confirmed.

The alleged transfer of the state’s equity and subsequent multi-billion naira fund release without due process has raised concerns about transparency and accountability under the previous administration.

Critics argue that committing public resources to a project the state no longer legally co-owns could point to gross abuse of office.

‘No Stake Held by Ganduje Family or Kano Govt’

In a swift rebuttal to the allegations, the management of Dala Inland Dry Port issued a press statement strongly denying any ownership links to the Ganduje family or the Kano State Government.

In the statement signed by the Company Secretary, Barr. Adamu Aliyu Sanda, the company described the reports as “false and misleading,” stating that no member of the Ganduje family has ever held shares, directorship, or signatory authority in the company.

Key Points from the Company’s Rebuttal:

No Ganduje Family Involvement:
The company insisted that verified records from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) confirm that neither Dr. Ganduje nor his family members have any ownership or official involvement in DIDP. The company was initially controlled by Ahmad Rabi’u before 80% was sold to City Green Enterprises (CGE). The remaining 20% is held by Rabi’u, who allegedly has not completed payment for it.

Forgery Alleged Against Former MD:
The company claimed that an “ordinary resolution” document showing share allotments to Ganduje’s children is forged, having been authored solely by Ahmad Rabi’u without board consent. This, they allege, was part of an attempt to politicise the company’s internal matters after Rabi’u’s removal as MD.

Kano State Govt Never Owned Shares:
Contrary to the PCACC claims, the company maintains that Kano State never held equity in DIDP. The state’s involvement was limited to providing infrastructure as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative — not an investment.

No Official Board Representation by Kano State:
The company also refuted claims that an official named Abdullahi Haruna, allegedly representing Kano State, sat on the board. They assert no such person was ever involved in DIDP’s operations or board meetings.

“You cannot ‘remove’ an entity that never existed as a shareholder or director in the first place,” the statement reads. “CAC filings from inception to date confirm that neither the Ganduje family nor the Kano state government has ever appeared in the company’s ownership or directorship structure.”

The management described the allegations as part of a “coordinated attempt to malign Dr. Ganduje’s reputation.”

Accountability

The development has triggered strong reactions in Kano, with residents and civil society organisations demanding transparency and urgent steps to recover any misappropriated public funds.

“It is disheartening that such a huge sum could be spent on a project the state no longer owned,” said Musa Aliyu, a Kano-based civil society activist. “We commend the anti-corruption agency and hope this case will not be swept under the carpet.”

The Dala Inland Dry Port, a flagship infrastructure meant to boost trade and logistics in northern Nigeria, has now become the center of a politically charged legal and public controversy.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has warned that it will mobilise students across the country to occupy federal highways if efforts to sabotage private refineries, particularly the Dangote Refinery, continue.

In a strongly worded statement delivered during a national warning protest held simultaneously in Abuja, Asaba, and Lagos, NANS President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, condemned what he described as a coordinated attempt by vested interests to frustrate Nigeria’s refining independence.

He criticised the ongoing pressure by trade unions, especially PENGASSAN, to impose union membership on private refinery workers, calling it unconstitutional and a threat to investment.

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“This is coercion and a direct violation of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association,” he said.

NANS accused international oil companies, product importers, and local unions of conspiring to maintain Nigeria’s dependency on imported fuel by frustrating local refining efforts.

The association likened the situation to the collapse of the country’s textile industry, which it blamed on similar sabotage and lack of government protection.
The students’ body presented five demands, including:

1. Priority crude oil supply to Nigerian refineries;
2. An end to the undervaluation of crude sold to foreign refineries;
3. De-emphasis on fuel importation in favour of locally refined products;
4. Protection of private investments and workers’ rights;
5. An end to union harassment and industrial blackmail.

Comrade Oladoja warned that if the government fails to act, NANS will escalate its actions with nationwide student protests.

The ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Senate have risen to 73, following the defection of Senator Kelvin Chukwu of the Labour Party.

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The Senate formally announced Chukwu’s defection during plenary, marking another shift in the composition of the 10th National Assembly.

The lawmaker, who represents Enugu East Senatorial District, says his defection followed what he described as the disorganisation within the Labour Party.

But the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, called on opposition parties to reorganise and provide credible alternatives, warning that their current disarray poses a threat to democratic vibrancy in the country.

‘I want a strong and vibrant opposition in Nigeria, but when they are in tatters, what can we do? Please, put your house in order. That’s why INEC is registering more political parties,” Akpabio stated.

Echoing the Senate President’s sentiments, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele attributed the growing support for the APC to the administration’s handling of the economy.

“This shift in the Senate reflects a broader national trend; the APC-led government is working.

“Our foreign reserves are improving, and the GDP shows signs of steady growth; these are clear indicators that the economy is bouncing back,” said Bamidele.

With the latest development, the current distribution of seats in the Senate shows that the APC has 73 members, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 28, and the LP has four.

Peter Ameh, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), has accused former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, of damaging Nigeria’s multi-party democracy during his 10-year tenure at the commission.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Ameh alleged Yakubu’s leadership was characterised by high-handedness, disregard for opposition parties, and a failure to uphold transparency in the electoral process.

According to him, “Under Professor Mahmood’s tenure, the opposition suffered. He was not accommodating when it came to opposition or multi-party democracy; all he wanted was to crush it. The high-handedness was much.”

According to him, Yakubu’s administration had failed to build institutional capacity within INEC, claiming that the commission became elitist and detached from its core mandate.

“Mahmood spent 10 years at the commission, leaving that place, what you see is an elitist escort to protect him from the anger that was in the commission. There wasn’t any essence to build or lift the spirit of the staff,” he stated.

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He further criticised the former INEC chairman for mismanaging Nigeria’s electoral cycles and eroding public trust.

“When you talk about INEC, the commission’s primary duty is to conduct elections. During Mahmood’s tenure, there was corruption and mismanagement. Legitimacy was bastardized,” Ameh said, citing the Edo State election as an example of alleged irregularities.

“The conduct of the 2023 general elections is a bitter taste in everybody’s mouth; that is what he will be remembered for,” he added.

Ameh also faulted Yakubu for failing to take responsibility after the technical glitches that marred the 2023 polls. “He was supposed to come out and say what happened. He made promises that the results would be transmitted, but he failed. Maybe there was a glitch, but he should have set up an independent investigative body to find out what went wrong,” he argued.

He concluded that Yakubu’s actions weakened Nigeria’s democratic structure. “For me, Mahmood’s tenure damaged the multi-party democracy we have. He pushed and invested so much energy in Section 225A to undermine political parties. He turned the essence of our democratic system into a laughing stock,” Ameh stated.

Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, has said that the outgoing Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has left behind a weak electoral commission despite introducing significant reforms during his ten years in office.

Yakubu is leaving office as INEC chairman, having completed his two-term tenure of 10 years.

Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief, on Wednesday, Itodo said while Yakubu made remarkable contributions to the electoral process, political interference weakened the Commission’s independence.

“You cannot wish away that Professor Mahmood introduced remarkable reforms. We are yet, as a country, to maximise the utility and potential of those reforms because of the actions of our politicians,” he said. “But I think that one thing that Professor Mahmood leaves behind to a large extent is a weak INEC  weak to the extent that there is a lot of political interference with the functions of INEC.”

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Itodo noted that partisan appointments and external influence in the commission’s affairs undermined the credibility of elections.

“A classic example is the appointment of partisan Resident Electoral Commissioners. The chairman is not the appointing authority, but under Professor Mahmood, we saw how three Resident Electoral Commissioners were removed from office because of either insubordination, lack of competence, or manipulating the electoral process,” he explained.

He added that such interference affected public trust and confidence in the system.

“There are several setbacks you can look at. Where is the level of trust today in the electoral process?” he questioned. “Other actors interfered with the functions of INEC, and that deepened the lack of integrity of the process.”

However, Itodo also acknowledged Yakubu’s major achievements, particularly the adoption of technology that transformed Nigeria’s elections.

“One of the greatest legacies Mahmood leaves behind is the automation of our electoral processes, especially the introduction of technology,” he said. “The BVAS and IReV were game-changers. They deepened the integrity of the accreditation process and enhanced transparency.”

He further praised Yakubu’s commitment to inclusion, noting INEC’s efforts to involve women, youths, and persons living with disabilities in the electoral process.

“Ten years in the life of an institution is indeed a long time,” he added.

The former INEC Chair handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu as Acting Chairperson on Tuesday.