Kano Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje
‘I will assent to death sentence if the court rules so,’ Gov. Ganduje tells late Hanifa’s family
Kano Governor, Umar Abdullahi Ganduje has vowed to speedily assent to the decision of the court on the suspected culprits facing trial in the murder of a five-year-old pupil of a school in the state.
The story of Hanifa Abubakar, who was allegedly murdered by her teacher and proprietor of the Noble Kids Comprehensive College, where she was a pupil, has drawn the ire of Nigerians since the incident occurred, last month.
She was reportedly abducted for ransom on December 2, last year, by proprietor of the school, Abdulmalik Tanko, but killed even after the money was paid.
Tanko who has since been arrested had confessed to the crime, claiming he killed Hanifa on the fears that she was going to expose him for the crime.
The prime suspect reportedly drugged his victim with rat poison, and proceeded to bury her behind the school yard.
Hanifa’s remains were discovered buried in a shallow grave when policemen visited the school located at Kwanar Dakata in Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano, last Thursday.
Hanifa was the only child of the parents.
Already, the state government has revoked the operating license of the school, Noble Kids Comprehensive College, even as angry youths in the state set the institution ablaze, last Monday night.
During a visit to the family of the deceased, Monday, state Governor Ganduje assured that he will speedily assent to the ruling of the court when it is made.
Ganduje paid the condolence visit to the slain schoolgirl’s family in Dakata/Kawaji along with his deputy, Dr Nasuru Yusuf Gawuna; Majority Leader, State House of Assembly, Labaran Abdul Madari; and other top government functionaries.
“I will abide by the constitutional provision as the Governor of Kano to assent to the death sentence in the circumstance the judgment passed by the court against the culprits.
“We have good confirmation from the court handling the process that justice would be done. No stone would be left unturned.
“Whoever is found guilty of this heinous offence will also face death without wasting any time. As a government, we have already started the process.
“Our constitution provides that, when a death sentence is passed, it is the constitutional power of the governor to assent to the execution of the culprit. I assure you all that, I will not waste even one second,” Ganduje added.
On the speed of the proceeding, he further encouraged that there would be a speedy dispensation of justice, adding that, “the government will take good care of the family of our late child Hanifa of blessed memory.”
Ganduje also said his government would do something about the schools affected by the tragedy.
