Ummukulsum’s Murder: Suspect faults Medical, police reports as prosecution close case

A Chinese national, Geng Quangrong, standing the murder trial of Ummukulsum Sani, a 24-year-old lady allegedly stabbed to death in Kano, on Wednesday faulted a medical report that certified the death of the victim.

Quangrong also objected to a confessional statement brought before the court by the police, and insisted he had never authored or sign the document assumed to have been fabricated.

Although, the suspect during the last sitting made a shocking revelation of how he inflicted a deep cut on Ummukulsum’s shudder out of emotional provocation to the physical attack unleash on him.

Quangrong is being held on a count charge of culpable homicide by the Kano state government for allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death at her Janbulo Quarters in the Kabuga area of the Kano metropolis on 16th September 2022.

At the resumption of the hearing of witnesses on Wednesday, defence counsel, Mohammad Danazimi argued that the medical report signed by three medical officers including the Chief Medical Officer of Murtala Muhammad Specialists Hospital, appeared questionable.

Danazimi who raised the objection during a cross-examination of the first witness of the prosecution Aminu Alilu insisted the medical report lacked all known professional credence.

The defence lawyer told the court that the medical report that was submitted in photocopy form showing no clear indication of names of two out of three signatories of the letter is assured a forged document.

Besides, Danazimi argued further that the defendant has reason to opine the medical report was not a certified copy because it took 90 days after request before the prosecution could furnish the defence with the evidence.

Danazimi however failed to admit the confessional statement the suspect submitted to the court, and insisted his client was forced, threatened and pushed into the cell in handcuffs.

Although the defence requested for trial within a trial with the witness to clear the doubt, Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji overruled the request, cited section 38 (6) of the Administration of Crime Justice System (ACJS) has abrogated the provision. The Judge however assured that the defence objections would be heard and ruled upon along with other addresses at the end of defence.

In a counterargument, the prosecution, Barrister Aisha Mahmud argued against the position of the defence and insisted that evidence cannot be rejected after the same had been tendered before the court.

Aisha, who is also the director, of public prosecution, the Kano state ministry of Justice, revealed that the prosecution has closed the case after presenting 5 witnesses before to prove the veracity of the prosecution.

Justice Ma’aji had adjourned to 10th January 2023 for a hearing of defence.