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.
