Tanko, 38, Isyaku, 37, and Fatima Musa, 26, all residents of Tudun Murtala Quarters, Kano, were arraigned on February 14, 2022, on a five-count charge of criminal conspiracy, attempt to kidnap, abetment, kidnapping and concealing of a kidnapped person.
By Idris Saidu
365Daily– A Kano High Court has sentenced the proprietor of Nobel Kids Comprehensive College, Kano, Abdulmalik Tanko, and Hashimu Isyaku, to death by hanging, after finding them guilty of the murder of a six-year-old pupil, Hanifa Abubakar.
Tanko, 38, Isyaku, 37, and Fatima Musa, 26, all residents of Tudun Murtala Quarters, Kano, were arraigned on February 14, 2022, on a five-count charge of criminal conspiracy, attempt to kidnap, abetment, kidnapping and concealing of a kidnapped person.
Tanko was accused of kidnapping Hanifa on December 1, 2021, and holding her hostage in his house at Tudun Murtala for days before killing and burying her in a shallow grave on December 10, 2021.
He had stated in his confessional statement that he gave Hanifa tea mixed with rat poison after receiving N100,000 of the N6 million ransom he demanded for her release.
The offence contravenes the provisions of sections 97, 85 and 276, 274(b), 95 and 277 of the Penal Code, Laws of Kano State, 1991.
Delivering judgment, Justice Usman Na’abba held that the Prosecution proved their case beyond reasonable doubt.
“Pw1, Pw2, exhibit 11,12,13, and oral evidence of the defenfants tendered by the Prosecution proved their case.
“The court discharges and acquits the third defendant, Musa, for abetment. She is sentenced to two years imprisonment being a mother for conspiracy and attempt to kidnap,” the judge held.
Earlier, the Defence Counsel, Mrs Hasiya Muhammad-Imam, pleaded for leniency and urged the court to temper justice with merrcy on behalf of the defenfants.
“My Lord, Tanko is a father of three; Isyaku is the bread-winner of his family while Musa is a mother,” she pleaded.
The Prosecution Counsel, Attorney-General of Kano State, Musa Abdullahi-Lawan, said the case is a crime against humanity.
“I urge my Lord to impose the maximum sentence against the first defendant.
“The First defendant decided to kidnap Hanifa and decided to kill her because she is old enough to recognise him.
“The mother of late Hanifa should have justice,” Abdullahi-Lawan said.
The prosecution counsel presented eight witnesses and tendered 14 exhibits to prove their case against the defendants and recovered N29,000.
The defence witnesses were the three convicts.
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