The Kano State High Court has pronounced a death sentence on teacher Abdulmalik Tanko for killing his student Hanifa Abubakar last December.
The owner of Noble Kids College, Mr. Tanko, received a hanging death sentence.
Mr. Tanko was charged with five counts of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, imprisonment, and culpable homicide in violation of sections 97, 274, 277, and 221 of the penal code, along with his accomplice Hashim Isyaku and Fatima Musa.
On December 4, 2021, Hanifa, a five-year-old student, was abducted, slain, and buried in a shallow grave by Mr. Tanko as she was coming from Islamiyya school.
Mr. Tanko, 38, and Hashimu Isyaku, 38, were given death by hanging sentences by judge Usman Nababa for the kidnapping and murder of Hanifa Abubakar.
Each of the guilty parties received a five-year sentence for conspiracy.
Fatima Musa, another suspect, was given a one-year sentence for conspiracy and an additional one-year term for attempting to commit a felony.
The prosecution team, which was led by Kano State Attorney-General Musa Lawan, called eight witnesses and provided fourteen evidence to support its case.
Mr. Tanko had admitted to abducting the girl, killing her with N100 rat poison, and then burying her in one of his schools in a shallow grave, but he then revoked his confessional statement.
President Muhammadu, as well as many other Nigerians, strongly condemned the assassination of Hanifa.
