A Kano school proprietor, Abdulmalik Tanko, who is the principal suspect in the murder of a five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar in Kano, on Monday denied killing the girl and pleaded not guilty.
Tanko, who was accused of abducting and killing Hanifa has denied the allegations against him and two others in court during the trial on Monday.
The teacher at the Kano State Police Command confessed to journalists that he kidnapped and killed the victim, with N100 rat poison before burying her remains in a shallow grave in one of his schools.
Hanifa Abubakar was abducted on December 4, 2021 on her way home from Islamiyya and subsequently discovered to have been killed by her teacher and school proprietor,Tanko, after demanding N6 million ransom, at Dakata, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
However, at the continuation of the trial, the suspect made a u-turn, denying allegations that Hanifa was poisoned and buried in a school, as seen in a video earlier in the day.
They only responded to one-third of the charges read to them, which was a conspiracy.
Fatima, who was one of the suspects, also denied allegations read to her by writing a letter to Hanifa’s parents, stating that a ransom of N6 million was required on behalf of Abdulmalik Tanko.
The prosecution counsel led by Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Musa Lawan, asked the court to allow them to present their evidence at the next hearing.
The presiding Judge, Justice Usman Naabba adjourned the case till March 2 and 3 for hearing.