Abdulmalik Tanko, the school proprietor and main accused person in the alleged murder of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar, has denied kidnapping and killing the young girl.

Thelagostimes recalls that Hanifa, a pupil of Noble Kids Comprehensive College – a school located in Kwanar ‘Yan Gana in Tudun Murtala Quarters in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State was reportedly abducted by the school proprietor – Tanko – who demanded ransom from her parents and was said to have killed her in December last year.

According to Haruna Kiyawa, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kano, Tanko had confessed that he kidnapped Hanifa and took her to his house where he contacted her relatives and demanded a ransom of N6 million.

However, the defendant who had initially consented to the allegations preferred against him by the state government denied all four charges when the hearing of the case resumed on Monday.

He agreed to only one charge bordering on conspiracy to commit kidnap. Tanko and his two other alleged accomplices were represented by a counsel from legal aid, Labaran Usman.

In his ruling, Justice Usman Naaba later adjourned until March 2 and 3 for the continuation of the hearing of the case.