47-year-old Chinese national, Frank Geng-Quangrong, has been sentenced to death by hanging over the murder of his Nigerian girlfriend, Ummukulsum Sani.

The Kano High Court sitting on Tuesday, gave the sentence after he was found guilty of stabbing the deceased to death.

Frank, who lives in Railway Quarters Kano, was convicted on one count charge of culpable homicide.

Delivering judgment, Justice Sanusi Ado-Ma’aji, held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“The defendant’s testimony is inconsistent. I hereby find him guilty.

“I hereby recommend mercy by the Kano State Governor on behalf of the convict,” he ruled.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, the Attorney-General of Kano State, Haruna Dederi, had informed the court that the convict committed the offence on September 16, 2022, at Janbulo Quarters, Kano.

He said on the same date at about 9 pm, the convict stabbed the deceased with a knife in her house situated at Janbulo Quarters Kano for an undisclosed reason.

“The victim was rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano where she was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he said.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution presented six witnesses to prove their case against the defendant and four exhibits.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes the provision of Section 221(b) of the Penal Code.

The defence counsel, Muhummad Dan’azumi, presented the defendant to defend himself, and one other witness and tendered five exhibits.

Dan’azumi urged the court to recommend the defendant for a prerogative of mercy pursuant to Section 313 of ACJL.

In his testimony, Frank said, “I didn’t kill Ummulkhulsum intentionally but stabbed her in self-defense after she grabbed my testes”.

He pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in its judgment.

Speaking with NAN shortly after the judgment, the victim’s mother, Hajiya Fatima Zubairu, expressed satisfaction with the judge’s decision.