A High Court sitting at Audu Bako, presided over by Justice Usman Na’abba, has ordered a legal representation for Abdulmalik Tanko and his accomplices.
This means that the alleged child killer, who under Nigerian law remains innocent until proven guilty by a competent court, will be represented by a government-funded lawyer. This also applies to the other defendants.
Tanko, 34, and his alleged accomplices — Hashim Isyaku, 37 years, and Fatima Jibrin, 26 years — all residents of Tudun Murtala in Nasarawa LGA of Kano State, were accused of criminal conspiracy, kidnap, confinement and culpable homicide contrary to section 97, 274, 277, 221 of the penal code.
A magistrate Court 12, sitting at Gidan Murtala and presided over by Chief magistrate Muhammad Jibril, had asked for Tanko and his accomplices’ case to be transferred to the state high court number 6.
Counsel to the state government, led by Aisha Mahmoud, applied to the court to adjourn the case to the higher court as the magistrate had no jurisdiction over the case.
On Monday, the state High Court, therefore, adjourned the case to February 14 and ordered the suspects to be remanded in prison custody.
