Appeal Court Affirms Death Sentence for Abdulmalik Tanko Over Murder of Five-Year-Old Kano Pupil Hanifa Abubakar, Upholds High Court Ruling
The Court of Appeal sitting in Kano State has upheld the death sentence passed on Abdulmalik Tanko for the murder of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar, one of Nigeria’s most shocking child murder cases in recent years. Delivering judgment, Justice A. R. Muhammad dismissed Tanko’s appeal and affirmed the ruling of the Kano State High Court, which sentenced him to death by hanging.
The appellate court ruled that the trial court correctly applied the law and thoroughly evaluated the evidence presented by the prosecution. Justice Muhammad stated that Tanko failed to raise any credible issues capable of overturning his conviction, describing the prosecution’s case as strong, consistent, and persuasive. The court further held that there was no legal basis to interfere with either the findings or the sentence imposed by the lower court.
The judge also noted that once Tanko exhausts all remaining legal options, the appropriate authorities should ensure that the judgment is fully enforced.
Hanifa Abubakar was abducted in December 2021 from Noble Kids Academy in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, a school owned by Tanko. Investigations revealed that Tanko kidnapped the child, demanded a ₦6 million ransom from her parents, and later poisoned her with rat poison, leading to her death. The case sparked nationwide outrage due to the victim’s young age and the breach of trust by a school proprietor entrusted with children’s safety.
Tanko was arraigned alongside Isyaku Hashim and Fatima Jibril in January 2022 on charges including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, unlawful detention, and culpable homicide. In July 2022, the Kano State High Court sentenced Tanko and Hashim to death by hanging, while Fatima Jibril was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for her role in the crime.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Kano State has upheld the death sentence passed on Abdulmalik Tanko for the murder of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar, one of Nigeria’s most shocking child murder cases in recent years. Delivering judgment, Justice A. R. Muhammad dismissed Tanko’s appeal and affirmed the ruling of the Kano State High Court, which sentenced him to death by hanging.
The appellate court ruled that the trial court correctly applied the law and thoroughly evaluated the evidence presented by the prosecution. Justice Muhammad stated that Tanko failed to raise any credible issues capable of overturning his conviction, describing the prosecution’s case as strong, consistent, and persuasive. The court further held that there was no legal basis to interfere with either the findings or the sentence imposed by the lower court.
The judge also noted that once Tanko exhausts all remaining legal options, the appropriate authorities should ensure that the judgment is fully enforced.
Hanifa Abubakar was abducted in December 2021 from Noble Kids Academy in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, a school owned by Tanko. Investigations revealed that Tanko kidnapped the child, demanded a ₦6 million ransom from her parents, and later poisoned her with rat poison, leading to her death. The case sparked nationwide outrage due to the victim’s young age and the breach of trust by a school proprietor entrusted with children’s safety.
Tanko was arraigned alongside Isyaku Hashim and Fatima Jibril in January 2022 on charges including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, unlawful detention, and culpable homicide. In July 2022, the Kano State High Court sentenced Tanko and Hashim to death by hanging, while Fatima Jibril was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for her role in the crime.
Appeal Court Affirms Death Sentence for Abdulmalik Tanko Over Murder of Five-Year-Old Kano Pupil Hanifa Abubakar, Upholds High Court Ruling
The Court of Appeal sitting in Kano State has upheld the death sentence passed on Abdulmalik Tanko for the murder of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar, one of Nigeria’s most shocking child murder cases in recent years. Delivering judgment, Justice A. R. Muhammad dismissed Tanko’s appeal and affirmed the ruling of the Kano State High Court, which sentenced him to death by hanging.
The appellate court ruled that the trial court correctly applied the law and thoroughly evaluated the evidence presented by the prosecution. Justice Muhammad stated that Tanko failed to raise any credible issues capable of overturning his conviction, describing the prosecution’s case as strong, consistent, and persuasive. The court further held that there was no legal basis to interfere with either the findings or the sentence imposed by the lower court.
The judge also noted that once Tanko exhausts all remaining legal options, the appropriate authorities should ensure that the judgment is fully enforced.
Hanifa Abubakar was abducted in December 2021 from Noble Kids Academy in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, a school owned by Tanko. Investigations revealed that Tanko kidnapped the child, demanded a ₦6 million ransom from her parents, and later poisoned her with rat poison, leading to her death. The case sparked nationwide outrage due to the victim’s young age and the breach of trust by a school proprietor entrusted with children’s safety.
Tanko was arraigned alongside Isyaku Hashim and Fatima Jibril in January 2022 on charges including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, unlawful detention, and culpable homicide. In July 2022, the Kano State High Court sentenced Tanko and Hashim to death by hanging, while Fatima Jibril was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for her role in the crime.
