A Chinese national has been sentenced to death by a Nigerian court for the murder of his girlfriend in Kano state. The defendant, Frank Geng-Quangrong, was found guilty by a local court in the northern region of Nigeria's economic hub. Despite pleading not guilty, Geng-Quangrong now faces the possibility of execution pending the outcome of any appeals.
Kano Justice Commissioner Haruna Dederi emphasized the importance of respecting the laws of the society one resides in, stating that the verdict serves as a warning to all individuals to adhere to local regulations.
Capital punishment for serious crimes is not uncommon in Nigeria, with instances involving foreign nationals also being reported. In a separate case, a Danish man was sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of his wife and daughter in 2022.
While death sentences are handed down, the actual executions are infrequent due to the requirement of state governors' approval. According to Nigerian human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, only two death warrants have been signed since 1999.
Geng-Quangrong was accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend, 22-year-old Ummukulsum Sani, at a residence in Kano in September 2022. Reports suggest that the defendant claimed self-defense as the motive behind the violent act.
The convicted individual has a window of up to three months to file an appeal with Nigeria's Court of Appeal to challenge the death sentence imposed by the local court.
