Hanifa Abubakar: Killers of 5-Year-Old Girl Move to Upturn Death Sentence in Kano

• Two years after their conviction for the murder of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar, killers Abdulmalik Muhammad Tanko and Hashimu Isyaku have filed an appeal in the Kano Court of Appeal
• Hanifa was kidnapped in December 2021 by Abdulmalik, the owner of Northwest Preparatory School, while returning from her Islamiya lessons
• In their appeal, the convicted murderers argue that the lower court’s decision lacked sufficient evidence and legal basis to uphold the death penalty

Kano state – Two years after their conviction for the murder of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar, her killers, Abdulmalik Muhammad Tanko and Hashimu Isyaku, have approached the Court of Appeal in Kano to challenge the death sentences imposed by a lower court.

The appeal comes as a shock to many, given the heinous nature of the crime that gripped the nation.

Killers of 5-year-old Hanifa moves to appeal death sentence
Photo credit: @IQkabara/ Kui LimSource: Twitter

Justice B.M. Ugo, leading the three-judge panel, granted an extension for the appellants to file their appeal, a move that raised eyebrows in the courtroom.

Ugo stated:

“The extension of 14 days is granted upon no objection from the counsel to the Kano State government.”

Background of the case

Hanifa was kidnapped in December 2021 while returning home from her Islamiya (Arabic) lessons by Abdulmalik, who was the proprietor of Northwest Preparatory School.

During a prolonged criminal trial, which included detailed confessions from the suspects, it was revealed that Abdulmalik had demanded ransom from Hanifa’s parents to cover his financial debts.

In a chilling turn of events, he admitted to murdering Hanifa after receiving the initial ransom payment, fearing that she could identify him and expose his crime.

Appeal Claims Unreasonable Sentencing

In their appeal, filed by their counsel, Anthony Osondu Ezenwoko, Tanko and Isyaku argue that the lower court’s decision was unreasonable and unsupported by sufficient evidence.

They contend that the verdict handed down by Justice Usman Na’abba lacked the legal basis necessary to uphold such a severe punishment.

Source: TheTalk.NG

President Tinubu Told to Immediately Sack Top Minister, Details Emerge

Popular advocacy group, HURIWA, said Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, “brings nothing to the table” Amid the recurring collapse of the national grid, HURIWA urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately dismiss the power minister TheTalk.NG reports that about half of Nigeria’s more than 200 million people are hooked up to a national electricity grid ... Read more Continue reading here ▶

Lagos: Primate Ayodele Prophesises Earthquakes, Tremor, Details Emerge

Prominent Nigerian cleric, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, said Lagosians may soon experience an earthquake An earthquake – also called a quake, tremor, or temblor – is the shaking of the Earth’s surface resulting from a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere that creates seismic waves In a new video seen by TheTalk.NG, the outspoken ... Read more Continue reading here ▶

Wahid Oshodi: Tinubu Reacts as Nigerian Wins Top International Election, Details Emerge

Nigeria’s Wahid Enitan Oshodi has been elected as the new president of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) on Tuesday, October 15 TheTalk.NG reports that Oshodi’s election was confirmed at the 2024 ATTF annual general meeting held at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Reacting, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed confidence that ... Read more Continue reading here ▶

Ex-Buhari’s Aide Expresses Relief About UK’s Response to Sunday Igboho’s Petition

Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s ex-aide, Bashir Ahmad, has mocked Sunday Igboho for submitting a petition against the federal government over his secession move Ahmad, in his reaction to the move, said Igboho and others are unpatriotic, adding that it was a period that Nigeria was no longer a colony of the British The former presidential ... Read more Continue reading here ▶

National Grid’s Collapse: Transmission Company Provides Key Update Amid Blackout in Parts of Nigeria

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said the ongoing restoration of the national grid which collapsed on Monday, October 14, is ongoing In a statement on Tuesday, October 15, the TCN stated that the national grid experienced a disturbance, on Monday evening, October 14, 2024 TheTalk.NG reports that about half of Nigeria’s more than 200 ... Read more Continue reading here ▶