By Ismail Auwal
Jamila Mohammed Sani, the wife of Abdulmalik Tanko, who is accused of murdering 5-year-old Hanifa Abubakar, has testified against him in Kano High Court.
The wife identified Tanko as her lawfully married husband and Hashim, the second defendant, as his friend since they first met.
“He brought the girl to my house and told me that her mother is a teacher in his school and had gotten a job in Saudia Arabia and will be going to Abuja to sign some papers.
“She came with school uniform and school bag. I asked where are her clothes and I received her and removed her uniform.
“The following morning till evening I asked him the whereabouts of the mother, he said she did not call but he called and she said the queue was much so she’s not coming back that day.
“She spent the next two days, he said she called and said her money has finished she’s in Kaduna.
“From there I stopped asking him because he said she doesn’t have money to come back. The day he brought her she started crying and he then introduced Hanifa to his children Safiya and Aisha. Hanifa is a fair, beautiful girl, tall around 5-6 years.”
“After 5 days, he said he’s going to take her back. It was at night, I then took her uniform back to her. They were all asleep. I told him to allow for the following morning, her Friends are also asleep but he insisted. It was 7-11 pm. He took her out around 11 pm.
“Before he came back I was asleep. When he came back and didn’t know the time. She identified the badge, Hijab and the uniform Hanifa was wearing when she was brought to her and when she was killed. That’s all I know.”
Counsel to the defendants led by M. A Usman then cross examined Jamila before the court discharged her.
While answering questions from the defence counsel, she further informed the court that, “he told me Hanifa’s mother name is Murja.
“We don’t mingle with neighbours unless there’s an event (occasion). Never brought anything or anyone home except Hanifa.
“She was brought on Saturday and stayed till Thursday. My eldest child is 4years old attending Northwest Preparatory school.
“We were married for over 6 years. I never knew that Hanifa was missing until DSS came to us.
A total of eight prosecution witnesses were called before the court.
Musa Lawan, the state counsel and Kano state Attorney General, led the prosecution witnesses.
Justice Usman Na’abba presided over the court sitting in Audu Bako.
On the first day (March 2), three witnesses were presented, including two DSS personnel and the case’s IPO, a police officer.
The case has been rescheduled for the 9th and 10th of March, 2022.
