The Court of Appeal in Kano has upheld the death sentence for Abdulmalik Tanko, convicted of murdering five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar.

Justice A. R. Muhammad dismissed Tanko’s appeal, affirming the Kano State High Court’s ruling that he should be sentenced to death by hanging. The court said the trial judge had properly evaluated the evidence and acted within the law.

The judge described the prosecution’s case as “compelling and convincing” and found no merit in the arguments Tanko presented on appeal. Authorities were urged to ensure the sentence is carried out once all legal appeals are exhausted.

Hanifa, a pupil at Noble Kids Academy in Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano, was abducted in December 2021. Tanko, the school’s owner, demanded a ₦6 million ransom from her family before giving her rat poison, which led to her death.

The case caused nationwide outrage, not only because of Hanifa’s young age but also due to the betrayal of trust by someone in charge of her care.

Tanko, along with Isyaku Hashim and Fatima Jibril, was arraigned on January 24, 2022, on charges including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, unlawful confinement, and culpable homicide. In July 2022, the Kano State High Court sentenced Tanko and Hashim to death, while Jibril received a two-year prison term.