A Kano school proprietor, Abdulmalik Tanko, has been sentenced to death by hanging over the abduction and murder of a five-year-old pupil, Hanifa Abubakar.
A Kano State High Court sitting at Audu Bako presided over by Justice Usman Na’abba delivered the judgement on Thursday.
The court ruled that Isyaku Hashim, his conspirator, shall also die by hanging for concealment and kidnapping of the deceased.
Mrs Fatima Jibril, the third defendant, was however, bagged two years in prison for conspiracy and attempt.
The judge delivered his judgment around 2:25 p.m.
He ruled that, “The first defendant (Tanko) is hereby sentenced to death by hanging and additional 5 years for criminal conspiracy.
“The second defendant (Hashim) is hereby sentenced to death by hanging and two years for conspiracy and another three years for attempt to kidnap.
“The third defendant (Fatima Musa), being a mother, has been sentenced to one year for attempt and one year for conspiracy.”
-Background-
On February 7, 2022, the three convicts were arraigned before the Kano State High court on a five-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, confinement, and culpable homicide contrary to sections 97, 274, 277, 221 of the penal code.
The prosecution was led by the Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, M.A Lawan, while the defence team was led by Barrister Asiya Muhammad Imam of Legal Aid Council.
On December 4, 2021, Hanifa was kidnapped on her way home from Islamiyya School.
Her decomposing body was subsequently discovered in a shallow grave inside the premises of a private school.
After his arrest and arraignment, Mr Tanko confessed to the abduction, murder and burial of the pupil. He later denied killing her.
