Hanifa Abubakar: Main suspect in 5-year-old’s murder pleads innocent after guilty confession

The main suspect in the murder of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar in Kano, Abdulmalik Tanko, has pleaded not guilty, denying killing the girl.

Hanifa Abubakar, a 5-year-old girl, was abducted on December 4, 2021 on her way home from Islamiyya and was subsequently discovered to have been killed by her teacher and school proprietor, Abdulmalik Tanko, after demanding N6m ransom, at Dakata, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

Abdulmalik Tanko had publicly confessed to newsmen at the Kano State Police Command confessed that he kidnapped and killed the victim, with N100 rat poison before burying her remains in a shallow grave in one of his schools.

However, at the continuation of the trial, Abdulmalik Tanko and Hashimu made a u-turn, denying allegations that Hanifa was poisoned and buried in a school.

They only responded to one-third of the charges read to them, which was a conspiracy.

Also, Fatima, who was one of the suspects, denied allegations read to her by writing a letter to Hanifa’s parents, stating that a ransom of N6 million was required on behalf of Abdulmalik Tanko.

The prosecution Counsel, led by Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Musa Lawan, asked the court to allow them to present their evidence at the next hearing.

The presiding Judge, Justice Usman Naabba adjourned the case on March 2 and 3 for hearing.