Kano State High Court, on Thursday, presided over by Justice Usman Na’abba, has sentenced Abdulmalik Tanko, the Proprietor of Nobel Kids Academy and North West Preparatory School to death by hanging for masterminding the kidnap, and killing of 5-year-old Hanifa Abubakar, a pupil under his care.
Hashimu Ishyaku, Tanko’s accomplice, was also sentenced to death by hanging while Fatima Musa, another Tanko’s accomplice was sentenced to two years imprisonment for her own offense.
While being paraded by the police in January 2022, Proprietor Tanko had confessed to have killed 5 years old Hanifa with a rat poison, after which he buried her in a shallow grave.
It will be recalled that Mr. Tanko, alongside his accomplices, Isyaku, and Musa, were arraigned by the Kano State government, on five count charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, abetting, confinement and culpable homicide, contrary to section 97, 274, 277, 221 of the penal code.
Justice Na’abba said the defendants were convicted for four out of the five count charges on the ground that the prosecution council proved their case beyond doubt.
Reacting to the sentence, Hanifa’s father, Malam Abubakar Abdulsalam, said he was happy that his late daughter Hanifa finally got justice.
“I’m happy today that Hanifa, my daughter, has gotten justice. We appreciate everyone’s effort and that justice has been well served.” Malam Abubakar said.