Appeal Court Affirms Death Sentence for Hanifa Abubakar’s Killer

The Court of Appeal in Kano has affirmed Abdulmalik Tanko’s death penalty for the killing of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar.

Justice A. R. Muhammad, who delivered the lead judgment, dismissed Tanko’s appeal and affirmed the decision of the Kano State High Court, which had sentenced him to death by hanging.

The appellate court held that the trial court acted properly in law and in its assessment of the evidence presented by the prosecution.

Justice Muhammad ruled that the arguments advanced by the appellant lacked merit, describing the prosecution’s case as compelling and convincing.

He said the Court of Appeal found no justification to overturn or interfere with the lower court’s judgment.

The judge further urged the relevant authorities to ensure that the judgment is carried out once the convict has exhausted all legally available avenues of appeal.

Hanifa Abubakar was abducted in December 2021 by Tanko, the proprietor of Noble Kids Academy in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, where the child was a pupil.

After demanding a ransom of ₦6 million from her family, Tanko administered rat poison to the child, which led to her death.

The case sparked nationwide outrage, not only because of the tender age of the victim, but also due to the grave breach of trust involved, as the crime was committed by the owner of the school entrusted with her care.

Tanko was arraigned on January 24, 2022, alongside Isyaku Hashim and Fatima Jibril, on 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 was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.