A Kano High Court handed down a grave verdict on Tuesday, condemning a Chinese national, Frank Geng-Quangrong, aged 47, to death by hanging for the brutal murder of his Nigerian girlfriend, Ummukulsum Sani, aged 22. Frank, a resident of Railway Quarters in Kano, was found guilty of culpable homicide in a one-count charge.
Presiding over the case, Justice Sanusi Ado-Ma’aji asserted that the prosecution convincingly established its case against the defendant. “The defendant’s testimony lacks consistency. Therefore, I find him guilty,” stated the judge. Additionally, he recommended clemency from the Kano State Governor on behalf of the convict.
During the trial, the Prosecution Counsel, Kano State Attorney-General Haruna Dederi, detailed the events of September 16, 2022, when the convict fatally stabbed the victim at her residence in Janbulo Quarters, Kano. Despite pleading not guilty, the convict was convicted based on evidence presented by six witnesses and four exhibits.
In defense, Frank’s counsel, Muhummad Dan’azumi, argued for mercy under section 313 of ACJL, presenting the defendant’s testimony that the stabbing occurred in self-defense after the victim allegedly assaulted him. Frank pleaded for leniency from the court.
Following the verdict, the victim’s mother, Hajiya Fatima Zubairu, expressed contentment with the court’s decision.
The case took a poignant turn when Frank disclosed that he had lavished over N60 million on Ummukulsum Sani, including substantial sums for her education, business, and housing. He revealed feeling betrayed when she married someone else in February 2022, prompting him to relocate to Abuja. Despite this, she allegedly persisted in demanding money from him, leading to tragic consequences.
