Hajiya Fatima Zubairu, the mother of Ummulkhulsum Buhari, who was killed by her Chinese boyfriend, Frank Geng Quarong, has praised the Kano State High Court’s decision to sentence Quarong to death on Tuesday for her daughter’s murder.
Quarong, who is resident in Kano, was convicted on one count of culpable homicide, and sentenced to death by hanging.
Reading his judgement, the Presiding Judge, Justice Sunusi Maaji, rejected all six witnesses and evidence provided by the accused person.
Maaji said the prosecution counsels led by the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Haruna Dederi, have proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
He sentenced Quarong to death by hanging but added that they had a stipulated time to appeal the case if they were not convinced by the judgement.
Speaking with newsmen after the verdict, the victim’s mother expressed satisfaction with the judge’s decision.
She said, “I am extremely sad I lost my daughter, but I am satisfied justice has been served,” Zubairu said.
Also reacting to the development on X (formerly Twitter), some Nigerians stated that the ruling would serve as a deterrent to others.
A user, @Mrwateeter wrote, “What goes around comes around.”
Another user, @Simontaver, noted “It’s a good thing that justice has had its day in court. However, nothing can take away the pain this devil caused the family of the victim.”
On his part, @trueaficionado stated, “Every criminal must be made to face the consequence of their crimes to serve as a deterrent to others so that sanity can prevail in a society so engrossed in unending criminal activities of different dimensions.”
Also reacting, @Jerrydjft wrote, “Good one. It should serve as a deterrent to foreigners coming to Nigeria to commit crimes unabated.”
Others, however, expressed fear that the convict might plot an escape as it was in the case of Nadeem Anjarwalla, a Binance executive detained in Nigeria for alleged tax evasion and other offences, who reportedly escaped from custody.
@Sakinmuwagu wrote, “You will soon hear that he escaped from prison just the way the Binance executive escaped from the prison.”
@GAdeyela, who described it as good news, stated, “A lesson for some of our sisters to stop selling themselves to foreigners because of money. Let them overcome their low esteem. I hope he will not escape from detention like the Binance director because some of our security men are corrupt.”
@Chiefudo, on his part, wrote, “They should keep him in an underground jail and chains before he disappears like Binance boss; you know Nigeria is a country of many wonders.”
Quarong reportedly killed his erstwhile girlfriend, Buhari, following a misunderstanding.
During the proceedings, the prosecution counsel informed the court that the convict committed the offence on September 16, 2022, at Janbulo Quarters, Kano metropolis.
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 noted.
At the court, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecution then presented six witnesses to prove their case against the defendant along with four exhibits.
The prosecutor also said the offence contravenes the provision of section 221(b) of the Penal Code.
Moreso, the defence counsel, Muhummad Dan’azumi, presented the defendant to defend himself, and one other witness and tendered five exhibits.
He further urged the court to recommend the defendant for the prerogative of mercy pursuant to Section 313 of ACJL.