In a desperate attempt to deflect from the mounting corruption allegations engulfing his political career, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje has launched a clumsy counter-offensive that appears to have spectacularly backfired. A petition filed by his legal team has wrongly implicated a prominent businessman in the PREMIUM TIMES investigation into the Kano Dry Port scandal, a move analysts are calling a "panic reaction."

The 16-page document, submitted to the Inspector General of Police earlier this week, accuses the businessman of leaking classified documents to the press. However, a forensic review of the investigative series reveals a glaring inconsistency: at no point did the publication cite the businessman as a source. The blunder has exposed the former governor to fresh scrutiny and potential libel suits.

Anatomy of a Smear Campaign

The scandal centers on the Dala Inland Dry Port, a multi-billion Naira infrastructure project that has become a lightning rod for allegations of graft. PREMIUM TIMES previously exposed how the Kano State Government's 20% stake in the project was surreptitiously transferred to private entities linked to Ganduje's family members. The investigation, backed by corporate filings and bank records, painted a damning picture of state capture.

Instead of addressing the substance of these allegations—specifically the diversion of N4 billion (KES 320 million) in public funds—Ganduje's camp has seemingly resorted to shooting the messenger. "This petition is a classic distraction tactic," says Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, a legal expert and human rights activist. "When you cannot answer the facts, you attack the people you suspect provided them. But in this case, they are shooting at shadows."

• The Phantom Source: The petition alleges that Mr. Ahmad Rabiu, a director at the port, breached confidentiality agreements. Yet, the investigative reports relied on public records available at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), not leaked whispers. The disconnect suggests Ganduje's legal team may not have thoroughly read the reports they are attacking.
• Witness Intimidation: This legal maneuver comes mere days after a key witness in the state's case against Ganduje was arrested at the Aminu Kano International Airport. Civil society groups have flagged this pattern of harassment as a coordinated effort to silence dissent and derail the ongoing prosecution by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission.

The Kano Power Struggle

The timing is significant. The political war between Ganduje and his successor, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, has reached a fever pitch. The incumbent administration has vowed to recover "every Kobo" stolen from the Kano people, and the Dry Port dossier is their most potent weapon. By dragging a private businessman into the political mud fight, Ganduje risks alienating the northern business elite, a constituency he desperately needs to maintain his grip on power.

Legal experts suggest that falsely accusing a private citizen of leaking documents in a police petition could constitute defamation. If the businessman decides to sue, Ganduje could be fighting a war on two fronts: criminal corruption charges in Kano and a civil defamation suit in Abuja.

A House of Cards?

For the APC National Chairman, the walls seem to be closing in. The strategy of using law enforcement to intimidate perceived whistleblowers is a high-stakes gamble. If the police investigation clears the businessman—as the evidence suggests it must—it will validate the PREMIUM TIMES investigation and leave Ganduje with one less card to play.

As the drama unfolds, the people of Kano are left waiting for answers about the N4 billion meant for their development. The question remains: Who actually owns the Dala Inland Dry Port, and where did the public money go?