The Court of Appeal in Kano has dismissed the appeal of Abdulmalik Tanko and upheld the death sentence imposed on him for the kidnapping and murder of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar.
Delivering the judgment on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, Justice A.R. Muhammad ruled that Tanko's appeal lacked merit.
The court found that the Kano State High Court had correctly applied the law and properly evaluated the evidence presented during the trial.
Justice Muhammad described the prosecution's evidence as "compelling and convincing," stating there was no basis to overturn the lower court's decision.
He further advised the state government to enforce the sentence promptly once Tanko exhausts any remaining appeal options.
Hanifa Abubakar was abducted in December 2021 by Tanko, the owner of Noble Kids Academy in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, where she was a pupil.
Tanko demanded a ransom of ₦6 million from her family before killing her by injecting her with rat poison.
The brutal crime sparked nationwide outrage, particularly due to the young victim's age and the profound breach of trust by her school proprietor.
Tanko was charged on January 24, 2022, alongside accomplices Hashim Isyaku and Fatima Jibril on counts including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, unlawful confinement, and culpable homicide.
In a July 28, 2022 ruling, Justice Usman Na’abba of the Kano State High Court sentenced Tanko and Isyaku to death by hanging, while Jibril received a two-year prison term.
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