The Kano State High Court on Thursday sentenced the proprietor of Nobel Kids Academy and North West Preparatory School, Abdulmalik Tanko, to death for the kidnap and murder of a five-year-old schoolgirl, Hanifa Abubakar. Delivering the judgment, Justice Usman Na'abba sentenced Mr. Tanko, 38, and his accomplice Hashimu Isyaku, 38 to death by hanging for the crime. The convicts were also sentenced to five years each for conspiracy. One other suspect, Fatima Musa, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment for conspiracy and another one year for an attempt to commit a felony.
Recall that vigil360 reported the kidnap and eventual murder of five-year old Noble Kids Comprehensive College school pupil, Hanifa Abubakar, on December 4, 2021, by her teacher, Abdulmalik Tanko, after demanding N6m ransom.
The development provoked nationwide outrage with many calling for the suspect’s execution.
Mr. Tanko had confessed to kidnapping and killing the victim with N100 rat poison before burying her remains in a shallow grave in one of his schools but later withdrew his confessional statement.
The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, earlier this year had vowed to sign the death sentence without further delay if given by the court.