THE Court of Appeal sitting in Kano has affirmed the death sentence handed down to Abdulmalik Tanko, the convicted killer of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar.
News Point Nigeria reports that Justice A. R. Muhammad, delivering the judgment, dismissed Tanko’s appeal, upholding the ruling of the Kano State High Court which had sentenced him to death by hanging.
The appellate court held that the trial court acted correctly in law and properly evaluated the evidence presented.
In his ruling, Justice Muhammad described the prosecution’s case as “compelling and convincing” and found that the arguments advanced by the appellant lacked merit.
He further urged the relevant authorities to ensure that the sentence is executed once all legal avenues of appeal are exhausted.
Hanifa Abubakar, a pupil at Noble Kids Academy in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, was abducted in December 2021.
Tanko, the proprietor of the school, had demanded a ransom of ₦6 million from her family. He subsequently poisoned the child with rat poison, leading to her death.
The tragic case sparked national outrage, given the tender age of the victim and the profound breach of trust involved, as the crime was perpetrated by the owner of the school entrusted with her care.
Tanko was arraigned on January 24, 2022, alongside Isyaku Hashim and Fatima Jibril, facing charges including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, unlawful confinement, and culpable homicide.
On July 28, 2022, the Kano State High Court, presided over by Justice Usman Na’abba, sentenced Tanko and Hashim to death by hanging, while Fatima Jibril received a two-year prison sentence.
The Court of Appeal’s decision closes a major chapter in the case but underscores the gravity of crimes committed against children and the judicial system’s commitment to delivering justice.
