The Kano State High Court has sentenced Abdulmalik Tanko, a teacher who murdered his student, Hanifa Abubakar, to death last December.
Mr. Tanko, owner of Noble Kids College, was sentenced to death by hanging.
Mr. Tanko, along with his accomplice, Hashim Isyaku and Fatima Musa, were indicted in the Kano State High Court on a five-count count of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, confinement and manslaughter in contravention of sections 97 , 274, 277, 221 of the Penal Code.
Mr. Tanko kidnapped and killed Hanifa, a five-year-old schoolgirl, on December 4, 2021, on her way back from Islamiyya school, and subsequently buried her in a shallow grave.
The judge, Usman Nababa, sentenced Mr. Tanko, 38, and Hashimu Isyaku, 38, to death by hanging for the kidnapping and murder of Hanifa Abubakar.
The convicts were sentenced to five years each for conspiracy.
Another suspect, Fatima Musa, was sentenced to one year in prison for conspiracy and another year for attempting to commit a serious crime.
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To prove their case, the prosecution team led by Kano State Attorney General Musa Lawan called eight witnesses and presented fourteen pieces of evidence.
Tanko had confessed to kidnapping and killing the victim with N100 rat poison before burying her in a shallow grave at one of his schools, but later withdrew his confession statement.
Hanifa’s murder was widely condemned by many Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari.