The Management of Dala Inland Dry Port (DIDP) has strongly refuted recent media reports alleging that members of the family of the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje are shareholders in the company.
The management said the allegations, as reported, do not reflect the true ownership, structure or governance of the company and dismissed claims that the Kano state government holds a 20 per cent stake in the company.
Reacting through a statement signed by the company secretary, Barr. Adamu Aliyu Sandra, Wednesday and made available to newsmen in Abuja, also declare that the equity contributions of stakeholders are clearly documented, duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and subject to routine oversight.
While assuring its stakeholders, partners, and the public that the company has all times conducted its affairs transparently, the statement described the reports as false and misleading.
“This claim is entirely false. Verified records from the CAC and official board resolutions clearly show that no member of the Ganduje family has ever been a shareholder, director, or signatory in Dala Inland Dry Port.
The company was originally owned and managed by Ahmad Rabi’u and his associates before he invited City Green Enterprises (CGE) to invest in the project after years of dormancy.
“Prior to the sale, Rabi’u consolidated all shares in his own name after obtaining resignation letters from other directors, including his son. CGE subsequently purchased 80 per cent of the company, while Mr. Rabiu retained 20 per cent, which he has not fully paid for.
“The transaction was properly filed with the CAC, and at no point did it include the Kano State Government or any member of the Ganduje family.”
On the allegation that Ganduje’s children were allotted five million shares each at an “ordinary resolution” meeting, creating a new ownership structure with five equal shareholders, the statement said:” This claim is a fabrication.
“The alleged resolution document is not authentic. It was single-handedly authored and signed by Ahmad Rabi’u without the consent or knowledge of the other directors. Official company records at the CAC make no reference to such a resolution, and there is no legal or corporate evidence supporting the existence of any share allotment to Dr. Ganduje’s children.
“This forged document is one of several acts of mischief engineered by Rabi’u in a desperate attempt to politicize a private commercial matter following his removal as Managing Director for poor performance and financial mismanagement.
“Contrary to the practice of the board where all resolutions are prepared by the Board Secretary and signed by either two directors or chairman and secretary of the board, Ahmad Rabiu single-handedly wrote the resolution and signed it.”
Reacting to the allegation that the Kano state government holds a 20 per cent share in Dala Inland Dry Port.
The company secretary said:” This allegation is equally false. The Kano state government has never owned equity in Dala Inland Dry Port. The state’s only involvement came through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support provided at the request of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to facilitate the revival of the port project and promote economic growth in Kano.
“A letter of appreciation was issued by the NSC in response to the provision of critical infrastructure at the proposed site development of the Inland Dry Port at Zawaciki.
“CSR assistance, by definition, does not constitute shareholding or ownership. It was purely developmental support aimed at benefiting traders, businesses, and logistics operators in the state.”
Speaking on allegation that the interest of the Kano state government was represented in the board of the company by one Abdullahi Haruna, a said director in the employ of the Kano state government, Sandra described the claim as false.
“This is another false claim. There has never been any record of the said official as far as the company is concern, such person has never existed or known to the company in all its dealings. The official in question also had never attended any meeting nor involved in any official dealings of the board.”
Sandra also clarified the claim that Ganduje’s family or the Kano state government were later “removed” as shareholders from the company, saying” This claim is a baseless fabrication. You cannot “remove” an entity that never existed as a shareholder or a Director in the first place. CAC filings from inception to date confirms that neither the Ganduje family nor the Kano state government has ever appeared in the company’s ownership or directorship structure.
“The repeated circulation of this falsehood appears to be part of a coordinated attempt to malign Dr. Ganduje’s reputation and sow confusion among the public.”
