The Attorney General of Kano State and prosecuting counsel, Musa Abdullahi-Lawan, has presented three witnesses before a Kano high court in a case of alleged murder of a five-year old Hanifa Abubakar.
An investigator at the Anti-kidnapping Squad, SCID, Kano Police Command, who is also a witness, Inspector Ubale Usman tendered ten exhibits before the court.
Some of the exhibits include: white hijab, a cardigan, four phones, a badge belonging to Dahiru Bauchi Foundation, a shovel, victim’s picture and the sum of N30,300 cash.
Inspector Ubale testified that on the 4th of December, 2021, a case of missing person was reported to the police by Hanifa’s father Abubakar Abdulsalam of Yan Kaba Quarters.
He said that a team comprising members of the DSS, police and some medical personnel were immediately deployed to the scene situated at Tudun Murtala along Kwanar Yan Gana and arrested the alleged mastermind of the kidnap, Abdulmalik Tanko on the 20th of January 2022.
The investigator told the Court that he interviewed Abdulmalik Tanko who admitted to have kidnapped and killed the young girl on the 4th of December at about 5:30 in the evening after closing from Islamiyya school.
The mutilated body of Hanifa was later exhumed from a shallow grave by the medical team, and evacuated to Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital Kano for medical examination after which the corpse was handed to the deceased father for burial.
Abdulmalik Tanko had allegedly, took the victim and boarded a tricycle to his house situated at Tudun Murtala Quarters Kano. He told his wife that Hanifa was one of his staff’s daughter that traveled to Abuja for a job interview.
According to the prosecutor the offence contravened section 97, 95 and 273,274(b) and 277 of the Penal Code Laws of Kano State 1991.
The defendants, Abdulmalik Tanko, Hashimu Isyaku, and Fatima Musa, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The defense counsel, Mukhtar Labaran-Usman, cross-examined the Ubale Usman, and asked him who was the mastermind of the offence and how he knew the cardigan, hijab and school badge belonged to Hanifa.
Justice Usman Na’abba ordered that the defendants be remanded in kano Correctional facility and adjourned the matter until March 3rd, for continuation of hearing.
Our correspondent reports that Abdulmalik Tanko, Hashimu Isyaku, and Fatima Musa, are facing a five-count charge of criminal conspiracy, attempt to kidnap, abetment/kidnapping and concealing dead body.
