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By Dalena Reporters Staff l January 1, 2026
KANO, NIGERIA — In a significant judicial development, the Court of Appeal sitting in Kano State has affirmed the death sentence of Abdulmalik Tanko, the convicted killer of five-year-old pupil Hanifa Abubakar, dismissing his appeal and upholding the sentence originally issued by the Kano State High Court.
Delivering the ruling, Justice A. R. Muhammad held that the trial court properly applied the law and carefully evaluated the evidence presented, finding no basis to overturn either the conviction or the death sentence. The appellate court’s decision confirms that Tanko’s arguments lacked merit, and strong prosecution evidence supported the guilty verdict.
Tanko had been convicted in July 2022 by the Kano State High Court for the kidnapping and murder of Hanifa Abubakar, a pupil of Noble Kids Academy in Nassarawa Local Government Area. According to court records and widely reported background details, Tanko the school’s proprietor abducted Hanifa in December 2021, demanded a ₦6 million ransom from her family, and later administered rat poison to the child, resulting in her death.
The Kano State High Court sentenced Tanko and his accomplice Isyaku Hashim to death by hanging, while a third defendant, Fatima Jibril, received a two-year prison term. The case drew widespread public outrage across Nigeria given the victim’s tender age and the breach of trust involved, touching off a national conversation on child protection, school safety, and criminal justice.
In affirming the capital sentence, the appellate court stressed that once all remaining legal remedies are exhausted, the appropriate authorities should ensure the judgment is executed. This aspect of the ruling underscores the judiciary’s insistence on upholding the rule of law in cases involving heinous crimes against vulnerable citizens.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Kano State welcomed the verdict, describing it as a “landmark decision” that reinforces public confidence in the justice system and sends a strong message about accountability for crimes involving children.
As the legal process moves toward finality including the exhaustion of possible appeals the case continues to resonate with civil society groups and human rights advocates focused on protecting children and reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to justice for victims of serious criminal offences.