Prime suspects in the brutal killing of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar and his accomplice have pleaded not guilty to the kidnapping and killing of the underage girl.
Abdulmalik a school proprietor, had earlier confessed to the kidnapping and killing of Hanifa with #100 rat poison before mutilating and burying the body in a shallow grave.
Abdulmalik Tanko,Hashim Isyaku and Fatima Musa were re-arraigned before a Kano high court on five count charges of criminal conspiracy, attempt to kidnap,abetment/ kidnapping, and concealing dead body.
The school proprietor and his accomplice pleaded guilty on the first count charges of conspiracy, and pleaded not guilty to the other charges,while the third defendant Fatima pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The prosecutor who doubles as the attorney general of Kano state, Barrister Musa Abdullahi Lawan, alleged that Abdulmalik who is the proprietor of Noble kids comprehensive college Kano, had on December 4th, kidnapped and held Hanifa hostage in his house at Tudun Murtala, and later killed her with rat poison.
“On December 27th 2021, Fatima wrote a letter to the victim’s family on behalf of Abdulmalik demanding the sum of 6 million naira as ramsom.While the second defendant Hashim, buried her in a shallow grave at the school premises”
He maintained that the offence contravened section 97,274,274(b) and 221 of the penal code laws of Kano state 1991.
The trial judge, justice Usman Na’ Abba adjourned the matter to 2nd and 3rd March and ordered the accused person’s to be remanded in a correctional facility.
KHADIJAH ALIYU/KANO
