Killers of five-year-old Hanifa move to upturn death sentence in Kano

Two years after their conviction on a murder charge, the killers of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar have approached the Court of Appeal, Kano division, to challenge their death sentence.

Abdulmalik Muhammad Tanko and Hashimu Isyaku were found guilty of culpable homicide in July 2022 by Justice Usman Na’abba of the state high court, who subsequently committed the principal suspects to death by hanging.

Recall how little Hanifa was kidnapped on her way back from Islamiya (Arabic lessons) by Abdulmalik, proprietor of Northwest Preparatory School, where the late Hanifa attended.

In his cruel plot, Abdulmalik, alongside his criminal cohorts, poisoned the innocent girl and subsequently buried her in a shallow grave in the school premises located at Kwanar Yan Ghana in Nassarawa LGA, Kano.

During the criminal trial that lasted months, Abdulmalik confessed to having kidnapped Hanifa and claimed ransom to settle his financial liabilities.

The convict told the court that he took the decision to kill the innocent girl, even after he had collected the first tranche of ransom from Hanifa’s parents after he realised the little girl recognised him and may expose him.

In the appeal filed yesterday through their counsel, Anthony Osondu Ezenwoko, the appellants sought the appellate court to set aside the death sentences passed by the lower court.

The appellants argued that the decision of Justice Na’abba against them was unreasonable and could not be supported by relevant proof, having asserted clear evidence adduced before the court.

The convicts further alleged that the learned trial judge erred in law when he held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Barrister Ezenwoko, on behalf of the appellants, subsequently moved an application before the appellate court seeking an extension of time to enable him to challenge the death sentences at the lower court.

Justice B.M. Ugo, who led the three-judge panel, granted the request for an extension upon no objection from the counsel to the Kano state government.

Specifically, the appeal court granted an extension of 14 days within which the appellants must file their appeal at the lower court and move the notice of appeal.