The Court of Appeal sitting in Kano has upheld the death sentence handed down to Abdulmalik Tanko for the kidnapping and murder of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar.
Delivering the judgment on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, Justice A.R. Muhammad dismissed Tanko’s appeal, affirming the ruling of the Kano State High Court. The court held that the trial judge acted correctly in law and properly evaluated the evidence presented.
Justice Muhammad stated that the appellant’s arguments lacked merit, noting that the prosecution’s evidence was strong, credible, and convincing. He ruled that there was no justification for overturning the decision of the lower court.
The judge further urged the government to ensure the enforcement of the judgment once the convict has exhausted all available avenues of appeal.
Hanifa Abubakar was abducted in December 2021 by Abdulmalik Tanko, the proprietor of Noble Kids Academy in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State. Tanko reportedly demanded a ransom of ₦6 million from her family before administering rat poison to the child, which resulted in her death.
The case sparked nationwide outrage and condemnation due to the victim’s tender age and the breach of trust, as Tanko was the owner of the school she attended.
Tanko was arraigned on January 24, 2022, alongside Isyaku Hashim and Fatima Jibril, on charges including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, unlawful confinement, and culpable homicide.
On July 28, 2022, the Kano State High Court, presided over by Justice Usman Na’abba, sentenced Tanko and Hashim to death by hanging, while Fatima Jibril received a two-year prison sentence.
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