By Ismail Auwal
Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Musa Lawan has barred journalists from covering the trial of Abdulmalik Tanko.
Tanko was arrested for the alleged murder and kidnapping of his five-year-old pupil, Hanifa Abubakar.
Lawan explained that the decision is to allow State Security Service (SSS) agents to testify in court.
He also ordered reporters to leave the court’s corridor until after the first session (security testimony).
Tanko and one of his alleged accomplices, Hashimu Isyaku, have admitted to criminal conspiracy but have denied four other charges in the murder trial.
However, at the previous hearing, the other suspect, Fatima Jibrin, denied all charges.
The suspects were arraigned at state High Court No. 6 before judge Usman Na-Abba.
They were charged with criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, concealing/keeping a kidnapped person in confinement, and culpable homicide, all of which are violations of Penal Code Sections 97, 274, 277, and 221.
The judge, Na’abba, scheduled the hearing for March 2 and 3 and ordered the accused to be remanded in a correctional facility.
