Ummukulsum’s Murder: Witnesses narrated how Chinese national stab victim to death

The culpable homicide trial against a Chinese national Geng Quangrong resumed on Wednesday with a fresh account of how the late Ummukulsum Sani was murdered.

Two witnesses who testified before Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji of the state high court, Miller road, revealed that Geng stabbed Ummukulsum in her room when he forcefully gained entrance and locked up himself and the victim.

Responding to a question from Director Public Prosecution, Kano State Ministry of Justice, Barr. Aisha Mahmud, younger sister to later Ummukulsum Sani, Asiya Sani narrated that on 16 September 2022 at about 9 pm, Geng came to their house banging heavily at door.

Asiya said sooner her Mother Fatima Zubairu went to enquire at the instance of her late Sister who told the Mother that it was the Chinese friend but insisted he should not be let in.

According to Asiya, the mother who can no longer bear the heavy knock on their door later open the door and allowed the Chinese national entrance after he’s been left under the rain for a long.

Immediately the mother opened the door, Geng pushed her away and rushes to the house, where he met late Ummulkulsum where he stabbed her to death.

“As my Sister entered a room making Calls, the Chinese Man followed her locked the Sitting Room and the inner room, and at that time we went to the inner room window peeping and I saw Mr Geng holding a knife and on top of my Sister who was on a bed stabbing her with it”.

Asiya added, ” At the time with terrible fear, I quickly rush out and started calling for help alongside my siblings and our mother who was already outside the House looking for help. When Mr Geng realized the implication of what he did, he also came out of the room through the window and abandoned the lifeless body of my sister.

“At that point, our neighbours had rushed in and arrested him where they handed over him to the Police and myself and two others took my Sister to the hospital but looking at her She was not moving. It was at the hospital the doctor told us she was dead”. Asiya revealed.

Taking her turn on the witness box, the mother of the victim, Fatima Zubairu corroborated the narration of Asiya but affirmed the two years courtship between her late daughter and Mr Geng.

Responding to cross-examination from defense lawyer, Barr. Mohammad Danazimi, Fatima affirmed the good moral standard and friendliness of the Chinese national. Fatima who confirmed how generous and supporting hands Mr Geng had rendered to their family also affirmed how Ummukulsum promised to marry the Chinese national.

The defense counsel who put before the witness how the relationship between the late Ummulkulsum and Geng spanked between 2020 and February 2022, later crumbled, revealed that the family of the late Ummukulsum failed to fulfil their promise after Geng lodged N117 Million in the account of the deceased person for purchase of marriage material.

Besides the N100,000 weekly allowance he was given Ummukulsum in preparation for the wedding, parts of the questions, Fatima would not be denied.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Sanusi Ado Maji, adjourned the case to Thursday 17 November 2022 for the continuation of the hearing on witnesses.