Frank Geng-Quangrong, a Chinese national remanded over the “murder” of Ummukulsum Buhari, a Kano resident, says he spent millions of naira on her.
Geng-Quangrong was arrested by the police in September 2022 for stabbing the 22-year-old to death at her residence in Janbulo quarters, Kumbotso LGA of Kano.
While appearing before the Kano high court on Wednesday and Thursday, the accused said he spent over N60 million for her education, a house project, as well as for business.
WEDNESDAY PROCEEDINGS
“In June 2020, Ummukulsum got my phone number from her friend and called to tell me that she loves me, and by the grace of God she will marry me,” the suspect told the court on Wednesday.
“We started our relationship in July 2020 and she started asking for money. I gave her all she wanted because I loved her.
“I transferred over N60 million to her GT bank account, N18 million for her to start a business, N4 million for house, N6 million for university education, among others.
“Whenever I go to pick her for dinner at home, her mum always welcomed me with open arms.”
He, however, said the deceased married someone else in February 2022.
“I was heartbroken and disappointed so I relocated to Abuja,” he added.
“She kept calling me and chatting me on WhatsApp and continued demanding for money.
“Ummukulsum later told me she was divorced and asked me to come back to her and promised to marry me.”
Geng-Quangrong said Ummukulsum requested money to complete her house project in Abuja on September 13, 2022, adding that the deceased became very angry after he told her he had no money.
“She thought I was broke, that was why I don’t want to spend much money on her like before,” he said.
“She told me that she has found a new love and later sent her picture with the new lover on my WhatsApp which provoked me.”
THURSDAY HEARING
Led in evidence by his counsel, Muhammad Dan’azumi, Geng-Quangrong told the court what happened on the day of the murder.
Speaking on Thursday, he said 48 hours before the incident, Ummukulsum refused to pick his calls or respond to his text messages.
“On September 16, 2022 at about 8:30pm, I called her on WhatsApp. She picked the call and said since I can’t afford to give her all the financial support, I should forget about her,” NAN quoted him as saying.
“She is ill-tempered and gets angry easily. All her family members and friends know this.
“When she picked the call, she said I should send back the pet dog (Charlie) to her. I wanted to talk some more but she ended the call. That was I why I went to her house.
“I sent a message to her through WhatsApp telling her I brought Charlie but she said I was stupid. Ummukulsum’s sister opened the gate, came over to the car, picked the dog and went back in.
“She left me outside for more than 30 minutes in the rain. I knocked on the door many times but nobody answered me. A neighbour, Mustapha, approached me and called one of her sisters, Asiya, with his phone, but she didn’t pick the call.
“Ummukulsum later opened the door for me and I went inside to pick up the dog. On my way out, she rushed out from the living room and locked the door to the house before the gate.
“Ummukulsum was very angry. She went in and brought out a knife. I dropped Charlie the dog because I was very scared. I tried to hold her other hand to grab the knife from her. She tried to fight and we were struggling. She bit me on my hand and finger.
“The deceased abused me in Hausa and English language and then I got possession of the knife and refused to let go. She used her other hand to grab my private part and I was in pain.”
Geng-Quangrong also said Ummukulsum pulled him inside the living room and slapped him, adding that he didn’t know when he stabbed her.
“I realised that I may have stabbed her three days after the incident when another neighbour, Aminu, told me,” he added.
“I felt so bad, sorrowful, and cried bitterly when I heard the news of her death.”
The defence counsel tendered vital documents to to the court, after which Musa Abdullahi-Lawan, attorney general of Kano state and prosecuting counsel, said the defendant stabbed the deceased for undisclosed reasons.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which contravenes the provisions of section 221(b) of the Penal Code.
Sanusi Ado-Ma’aji, the presiding judge, thereafter, adjourned the matter till February 7 and February 8 for hearing.