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Tag: Abdulmalik Tanko

  • BREAKING: School proprietor sentenced to death for killing of Hanifa

    BREAKING: School proprietor sentenced to death for killing of Hanifa

    The proprietor of Nobel Kids Academy and North West Preparatory School, Abdulmalik Tanko has been sentenced to death for the kidnapping and subsequent killing of a 5-year-old school girl, Hanifa Abubakar.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Tanko, the principal suspect who masterminded the kidnapping and killing of Hanifa, was sentenced to death by hanging by the Kano State High Court.

    The Presiding Judge, Justice Usman Na’abba gave the order while delivering his judgment on Thursday. Justice Na’abba also convicted Tanko to five years imprisonment for four count charges levelled against him.

    The Presiding Judge also sentenced the second defendant, Hashim Ishyaku to death by hanging and four years imprisonment, two years each, for conspiracy and concealment.

    TNG reports Tanko kidnapped Hanifa on December 4, 2021, held her hostage and emotionally tortured her for days in his house at Tudun Murtala Quarters, Kano.

    On December 10, 2021, the principal suspect killed the 5-year-old girl with rat poison, slaughtered her corpse and put her into a sack. In Tanko’s confessional statement, he gave Hanifa tea mixed with rat poison.

    The second defendant, Ishyaku, buried the remains of Hanifa in a shallow grave at the premises of Northwest Preparatory School situated at Kwanar Yan Ghana Tudun Murtala, Kano.

    The defendants collected the sum of N100,000 ransom out of the N6 million earlier requested, according to the Prosecutor and Attorney General of Kano State, Mr Musa Abdullahi-Lawan.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Na’abba held that the prosecution proved their case with ingredients beyond reasonable doubts.

    “Pw1, Pw2, exhibit 11, 12, 13, and oral evidence of the defendants tendered by the Prosecution proved their case. The court discharges and acquits the third defendant Musa for abetment. She is sentenced to two years imprisonment being a mother for conspiracy and attempt to kidnap,” the Judge held.

    Earlier, the Defence Counsel, Mrs Hasiya Muhammad-Imam pleaded for leniency and urged the court to temper justice with mercy on behalf of the defendants.

    “My Lord, Tanko is a father of three, Ishyaku is the bread-winner of his family while Musa is a mother,” she pleaded.

    However, the Prosecution Counsel and Attorney-General of Kano State argued that the case is a crime against humanity.

    “I urge my Lord to impose the maximum sentence against the first defendant. The first defendant decided to kidnap Hanifa and decided to kill her because she is old enough to recognise him. The mother of late Hanifa should have justice,” Abdullahi-Lawan said.

    TNG reports that the prosecution presented eight witnesses and tendered 14 exhibits to prove their case against the defendants and recovered N29,000. The defence witnesses were the three convicts.

    The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje had earlier this year vowed to sign the death sentence without further delay if given by the court.

  • Hanifa’s murder: School proprietor opens defence

    Hanifa’s murder: School proprietor opens defence

    A school proprietor in Kano, Abdulmalik Tanko, being tried along with others over alledged kidnap and murder of his pupil, Halifa Abubakar, on Monday, opened his defence, denying committing the offense.

    Tanko, 34, alongside Hashimu Isyaku, 37 and Fatima Musa, 26, all residents of Tudun Murtala Quarters, Kano, are standing trial before a Kano High Court.

    They are being tried on a five-count charge of criminal conspiracy, attempt to kidnap, abetment, kidnapping and concealing dead body of the five year-old pupil

    Led in evidence by M.L.Usman, his defence counsel ,Tanko said himself and two other defendants did not know how late Hanifa died.

    He said that in Dec.2021, he had a serious financial problem and therefore went to the bank to secure loan, but was told he had not satisfied requirements for granting of such loan.

    “On Dec.4,2021, I decided to go and pick Hanifa from Islamiyya School with a tricycle, which I hired, and took her to my house situated at Tudun Murtala Quarters Kano.

    ” On arriving home, my wife asked me whose child she was and I told her she was the daughter of one of my staff who traveled, and would be back in two to three days.

    “On Dec.10,2021, I was on my way to the market when I met one Habu, who applied for a job of security guard in my school but was yet tp be employed.
    ” I told him I have a simple job for him,and that he should come over to the school at Tudun Murtala; I told himthat there was a child he would look after for me for only one day, within the school premises.

    “We exchanged telephone numbers and he accepted to come over 11:30pm, after which we parted ways.
    “On the same date at about past 10:00 p.m, I left the house with Hanifa while she was seriously sleeping; the distance from my house to the school is not far.

    “Hanifa slept in one of the office on a three seater chair in the office, and I locked and left her in the school”, Tanko said.
    He also testified that on his way back home, he tried reaching Habu ,adding that the next day at about 7:30 a.m , he went to the school and was shocked to find Hanifa still sleeping in same position he left her.

    ”I touched her hand and there was no response”, he added, telling the court that he lied to the second defendant to come over to bury the corpse enclosed in a sack in his school premises.

    During cross-examination, the prosecution counsel, Kano State Attorney-General, Barr Musa Abdullahi-Lawan, asked the defendant if the second and third defendants knew Hanifa was kidnapped and how she later died.

    Tanko responded that the two were not aware that the pupil was kidnapped and the circumstances that led to her death.
    The judge,Justice Usman Na’abba, adjourned the matter until May 10, for continuation of defence.

    Thenewsguru.com recalls that the prosecution counsel had on April 12, closed its case against the defendants, with nine witnesses and tendered 14 exhibits.

    The offences are said to have contravened Sections 97, 95 and 273, 274(b) and 277 of the Penal Code, Laws of Kano State, 1991.