The Court of Appeal in Kano State has upheld the death sentence handed to Abdulmalik Tanko for the abduction and murder of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar, a case that shocked Nigeria due to the child’s age and the breach of trust by the school proprietor.

Delivering the judgment, Justice A. R. Muhammad dismissed Tanko’s appeal, affirming the ruling of the Kano State High Court, which sentenced him to death by hanging. The appellate court held that the trial court had correctly applied the law and carefully evaluated the evidence, noting that Tanko failed to present any credible grounds to overturn the conviction.

Hanifa was kidnapped in December 2021 from Noble Kids Academy in Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano, where Tanko was the proprietor. Investigations revealed that he demanded a ₦6 million ransom from her parents and later poisoned her, leading to her death.

Tanko was arraigned on January 24, 2022, alongside Isyaku Hashim and Fatima Jibril, facing charges of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, unlawful detention, and culpable homicide. On July 28, 2022, the Kano State High Court sentenced Tanko and Hashim to death by hanging, while Jibril received two years in prison for her involvement.

The appellate court emphasized that once all legal avenues are exhausted, authorities must ensure the execution of the judgment, reaffirming justice for Hanifa and sending a strong message against crimes targeting children.