Tanko, 38, Isyaku and  Fatima Musa, 26, who all reside in Tudun Murtala Quarters, Kano, were arraigned on February 14, on a five-count charge of criminal conspiracy, attempt to kidnap, abetment, kidnapping and concealing of kidnap person.

Delivering judgment, Justice Usman Na’abba, held that the prosecution proved the case with ingredients beyond reasonable doubt.

“Pw1, Pw2, exhibit 11,12,13, and oral evidence of the defendants tendered by the prosecution proved their case.

“The court discharges and acquits the third defendant Musa for abetment. She is sentenced to two years imprisonment being a mother for conspiracy and attempt to kidnap,” the judge held.

Earlier, the defence counsel, Mrs Hasiya Muhammad-Imam, pleaded for leniency and urged the court to temper justice with mercy on behalf of the defendants.

“My Lord Tanko is a father of three, Isyaku is the bread-winner of his family while Musa is a mother,” she pleaded.

The prosecution counsel, Attorney-General of Kano State, Musa Abdullahi-Lawan, said the case was a crime against humanity.

“I urge my Lord to impose the maximum sentence against the first defendant.

“The first defendant decided to kidnap Hanifa and decided to kill her because she is old enough to recognise him.

“The mother of late Hanifa should have justice,” Abdullahi-Lawan said.

The prosecution counsel presented eight witnesses and tendered 14 exhibits to prove the case against the defendants and recovered N29,000.

The defence witnesses were the three convicts.

Tanko, the proprietor of Nobel Kids Comprehensive College, Kano, was alleged to have kidnapped Hanifa, on December 1, 2021, held her hostage in his house at Tudun Murtala for days before killing and burying her in a shallow grave on December 10, 2021.

Tanko’s confessional statement revealed that he gave Hanifa tea mixed with rat poison and collected N100,000 as ransom out of the N6 million he demanded.

The offence, the state said, contravened the provisions of sections 97, 85 and 276, 274(b), 95 and 277 of the Penal Code, Laws of Kano State, 1991.

Source: NAN

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The Kano State government filed five counts of criminal conspiracy, attempt to kidnap, abetment, kidnapping and concealing dead body against Tanko, Hashimu Isyaku, 37, and Fatima Musa, 26, on February 14.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Usman Na’abba, fixed the date after the Defence and Prosecution Counsel adopted their final written addresses.

Earlier, the defence counsel, Mrs Hasiya Muhammad, in adopting her final written addresses dated and filed on May 31, prayed the court to consider the defendants and discharge them.

“We urge the court to adopt our written addresses as our oral argument in this case,” she said.

The prosecution counsel, Deputy Director Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Rabi Ahmad, in her final written addresses dated and filed June 6, prayed the court to convict and sentence the three defendants as charged.

Ahmad argued that the second defendant (Isyaku) was standing trial for concealing dead body contrary to the provisions of Section 277 of the Penal Code and punishable with death under Section 274(b).

“We urge the court to note the content of exhibit 12 (confessional statement) of the second defendant for burying late Hanifa’s corpse,” he said.

The defendants closed its case on May 10 with three witnesses.

The defence witnesses were the three defendants.

The prosecution counsel on April 12, closed its case against the defendants with nine witnesses and tendered 14 exhibits to prove their case.

Tanko, the proprietor of Nobel Kids Comprehensive College, Kano, was alleged to have kidnapped Hanifa, on December 4, 2021, held her hostage in his house at Tudun Murtala for days before killing and burying her in a shallow grave on December 10, 2021.

The offence, the state said, contravened the provisions of sections 97, 95 and 273, 274(b) and 277 of the Penal Code, Laws of Kano State, 1991.

Source: NAN

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Tanko, 34, alongside Hashimu Isyaku, 37, and Fatima Musa, 26, all residents of Tudun Murtala Quarters, Kano, are standing trial before a Kano High Court.

They are being tried on a five-count charge of criminal conspiracy, attempt to kidnap, abetment, kidnapping and concealing dead body of the five year-old pupil

Led in evidence by M. L. Usman, his defence counsel, Tanko said himself and two other defendants did not know how late Hanifa died.

He said that in December 2021, he had a serious financial problem and therefore went to the bank to secure loan, but was told he had not satisfied requirements for granting of such loan.

“On December 4, 2021, I decided to go and pick Hanifa from Islamiyya School with a tricycle, which I hired, and took her to my house situated at Tudun Murtala Quarters Kano.

“On arriving home, my wife asked me whose child she was and I told her she was the daughter of one of my staff who travelled, and would be back in two to three days.

“On December 10, 2021, I was on my way to the market when I met one Habu, who applied for a job of security guard in my school but was yet to be employed.

“I told him I have a simple job for him, and  that he should come over to the school at Tudun Murtala; I told him that there was a child he would look after for me for only one day, within the school premises.

“We exchanged telephone numbers and he accepted to come over 11:30 p.m., after which  we parted ways.

“On the same date at about past 10:00 p.m., I left the house with Hanifa while she was seriously sleeping; the distance from my house to the school is not far.

“Hanifa slept in one of the offices on a three seater chair in the office, and I locked and left her in the school,” Tanko said.

He also testified that on his way back home, he tried reaching Habu, adding that the next day at about 7:30 a.m., he went to the school and was shocked to find Hanifa still sleeping in same position he left her.

“I touched her hand and there was no response,”  he added, telling the court that he lied to the second defendant to come over to bury the corpse enclosed in a sack in his school premises.

During cross-examination, the prosecution counsel, Kano State Attorney-General, Barr Musa Abdullahi-Lawan, asked the defendant if the second and third defendants knew Hanifa was kidnapped and how she later died.

Tanko responded that the two were not aware that the pupil was kidnapped and the circumstances that led to her death.

The judge, Justice Usman Na’abba, adjourned the matter until May 10, for continuation of defence.

The prosecution counsel had on April 12, closed its case against the defendants, with nine witnesses and tendered 14 exhibits.

The offences are said to have contravened Sections 97, 95 and 273, 274(b) and 277 of the Penal Code, Laws of Kano State, 1991.

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Tanko, alongside Hashimu Isyaku, 37, and Fatima Musa, 26, who lives at Tudun Murtala Quarters, Kano, is facing a five-count charge along with the other two accused persons, of criminal conspiracy, attempt to kidnap, abetment, kidnapping and concealing dead body.

Tanko and Isyaku pleaded guilty on the first count charge of criminal conspiracy and pleaded not guilty to the other four count charges, while the third defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The prosecutor, who is also the Attorney General of Kano State, Barr. Musa Abdullahi-Lawan, informed the court that sometimes in November 2021, the defendants conspired and kidnapped the five-year-old Hanifa while she was returning from Islamiyya school.

He alleged that Tanko, the proprietor of Nobel Kids Comprehensive College, Kano, had on December 4, 2021, kidnapped and held Hanifa hostage in his house situated at Tudun Murtala for days and killed her with poison.

“In the process, the second defendant Isyaku buried her in a shallow grave in the premises of Northwest Preparatory School situated at Kwanar Yan Ghana, Tudun Murtala, Kano.

“On December 27, 2021, the third defendant Musa wrote a letter to the victim’s family, on behalf of Tanko, demanding the sum of six million Naira as ransom.”

Abdullahi-Lawan told the court that the prosecution would present four witnesses or more to prove their case on the next adjourned date.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Sections 97, 95 and 273,274(b) and 277 of the Penal Code Laws of Kano State 1991.

The defence counsel, Barr. Mukhtar Labaran-Usman, made an application, through Section 36(b) of the 1999 constitution, requesting for all the documents, to enable him prepare for accelerated hearing.

Justice Usman Na’abba ordered the remand of the defendants in a correctional facility and adjourned the matter until March 2 and 3 for hearing.

Source: NAN

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A statement signed and issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, made this known on Friday evening.

Ganduje, according to the statement, explained that measures had been taken regarding the matter.

Some of the measures, he said, included the indifinite closure and withdrawal of the operational license of the school, where the child was allegedly murdered and buried.

“The government is terribly disturbed that people entrusted with the care of children, turned out to be their murderers,” the statement said.

Ganduje added that government had been in touch with the family of the child, and would sustain that until justice prevailed, to serve as a deterrent to others.

The governor, however, commended security agencies in the state, for the prompt action that led to the arrest of those allegedly involved.

Furthermore, Ganduje commended the international community, human rights organisations and all Nigerians for their concern in the case.

He assured security agencies of his administration’s support in carrying out their duties, to ensure that Kano maintained peace.

Police in Kano on Thursday, announced the arrest of three suspects for kidnapping and murdering the five-year-old school pupil.

The prime suspect, Abdulmalik Muhammed, the proprietor of the school where the young girl was kidnapped, admitted to his crime.

Kano Police Command has launched an investigation into the matter and assured that the suspects would soon be arraigned in court.

Source: NAN

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