Prosecuting counsel, Attorney General of Kano State, Barr. Musa Abdullahi-Lawan, has presented three witnesses before a Kano high court in a case of alleged murder of 5 year old Hanifa Abubakar.
One of the witnesses, an investigator at the Anti-kidnapping Squad SCID Kano Police Command, Inspector Ubale Usman tendered ten exhibits before the court.
Some of the exhibits include four phones,cardigan,white hijab,Dahiru Bauchi Foundation school badge, shovel, victims picture and the sum of N30,300 cash.
Ubale testified that on Dec.4,2021 a case of missing person was reported to the police by Hanifa’s father Abubakar Abdulsalam of Yan Kaba Quarters.
He said that team of DSS, police and medical team immediately moved to the scene situated at Tudun Murtala along Kwanar Yan Gana and suceeded in arrested the alleged mastermind behind the kidnap on 20th January 2022.
The investigator, told the court that he personally interviewed Abdulmalik Tanko who admitted to have kidnapped and killed the young girl on Dec.4 at about 5:30 p.m after closing from Islamiyya school.
The mutilated body was exhumed from a shallow grave by medical team, and evacuated to Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital Kano for medical examination after which the corpse was handed to the deceased father for burial.
“Abdulmalik took the victim and boarded a tricycle later took her to his house situated at Tudun Murtala Quarters Kano. he told his wife Hanifa is one of his staff daughter that traveled to Abuja for job interview”
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened section 97, 95 and 273,274(b) and 277 of the Penal Code Laws of Kano State 1991.
The defendants, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The defense counsel, Barr. Mukhtar Labaran-Usman, cross-examined the prosecution witness Ubale Usman,and asked him who is the mastermind of the offence and how did he know the cardigan, hijab and school badge belonged to Hanifa.
Justice Usman Na’abba ordered the remand of the defendants in kano Correctional facility and adjourned the matter until March 3, for continuation of hearing.
Speaking after the court sitting, Attorney General, Abdullahi-Lawan told newsmen that they presented three witnesses before the court.
“Two out of the witnesses were DSS operatives who testified before the court without audience for security reasons on how they conducted their investigation in the case.
Abdulmalik Tanko, Hashimu Isyaku, and Fatima Musa, are facing a five-count charge of criminal conspiracy, attempt to kidnap,abetment/kidnapping and concealing dead body.
Radio Nigeria reports that, journalists were earlier barred from the court during the first sitting which lasted for six hours.
Khadijah Aliyu, Kano
