Abdulmalik Tanko, the principal suspect in the death of five-year old Kano schoolgirl Hanifa Abubakar, has denied the charges of kidnapping and culpable homicide.
One of his alleged accomplices Hashimu Isyaku also denied the charges. They, however, both pleaded guilty for criminal conspiracy but denied one other charge of confinement in their trial on Monday at the State High Court.
Another suspect Fatima Jibrin denied all the charges.
Hanifa was allegedly kidnapped last November while on her way back from an Islamiyya school. She, however, never returned home. The police said they found her remains at the school run by Tanko.
Meanwhile, Tanko and the others were charged with criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, concealing/keeping in confinement a kidnapped person and culpable homicide, offences contrary to Sections 97, 274, 277 and 221 of the Penal Code.
The judge, Usman Na’abba, fixed March 2 and 3 for the commencement of hearing and ordered the accused to be remanded at a correctional centre.
