A Magistrate Court in Kano on Wednesday ordered the extension of the remand of Abdulmalik Tanko and two other suspects in the case of the kidnap and murder of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar.
Tanko, who is the proprietor of Noble Kids School in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, is alleged to have conspired with Hashim Isyaku and Fatima Jibrin to commit the alleged crimes.
Tanko, 34, Isyaku, 37, and Jibrin, 26, all residents of Tudun Murtala in Nasarawa LGA were charged with criminal conspiracy, kidnap, confinement and culpable homicide contrary to section 97, 274, 277, 221 of the penal code.
Senior Magistrate Muhammad Jibrin had on January 24 remanded them in the Kano Correctional Centre for further mention.
However, during hearing on Wednesday, prosecution counsel Aisha Mahmud told the court that the government had decided to move the criminal charges before the State High Court.
Ms Mahmud, who is also the director of public prosecution, Kano State Ministry of Justice, explained that the government’s decision premised on the fact that the lower court lacks jurisdiction to hear the charges brought against the suspects.
She, therefore, appealed that the suspects should remain in the correctional centre for seven days pending when the prosecution will file termination notice of the case at the lower court.
“Considering the nature of the offences committed by the suspects and considering the fact that the lower court has no jurisdiction to hear the case, we have filed the charges before the high court,” Mahmud said.
“Based on this argument, we appeal for further remand of the suspects for one week pending when the case record is properly filed and when we shall return to terminate the matter.”
The matter was adjourned to February 9 for further mention.
