Lack of legal representation on Monday stalled the trial of school proprietor Abdulmalik Tanko, 34, before a Kano High Court, for the murder of a five-year-old girl.

Mr Tanko alongside Hashimu Isyaku, 37, and Fatima Musa, 26, were earlier arraigned on January 24, before a Chief Magistrates’ Court on four counts of culpable homicide, conspiracy, kidnapping, and concealing/keeping in confinement a kidnapped person.

The defendants, however, prayed that the Kano state government provide legal representation on their behalf.

When the case came up for re-arraignment on Monday, the prosecution counsel. Kano State Attorney-General, Musa Abdullahi-Lawan, told the court the defendants had no counsel and asked for an adjournment.

“The state will ensure that the defendants have legal representation so that case will go on,” he said.

Justice Usman Na’abba ordered the remand of the defendants in a correctional centre and adjourned the matter until February 14 for further mention.

On December 4, 2021, Mr Tanko, being the proprietor of Nobel Kids Comprehensive College, Kano, conspired with the two others to kidnap the minor.

The police alleged that the school owner held the minor hostage in his house, situated in Tudun Murtala Quarters, Kano, for six days and killed her by using rat poison.

The police also alleged that he put her corpse in a sack and buried her in a shallow grave on December 10, 2021.

(NAN)