IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Aminu Daurawa, a popular Islamic cleric in Kano, has revealed how a Chinese national, Geng Quandong, accused of killing his Nigerian girlfriend, Ummulkulsum Buhari, converted to Islam to marry her but the lady’s parents did not approve of the union.
Voiceofnaija.ng reported that Quandong, 47, allegedly murdered his 23-year-old girlfriend Ummukulsum, at Janbalu quarters on 17 September for allegedly refusing his hand in marriage and exploiting him.
The police arraigned Mr. Quandong before High Court No.17 at Miller Road in Kano’s metropolis. He is being charged with culpable homicide.
Daurawa said a week before she was killed, Buhari called in on the telephone asking for his counsel after Mr. Quandong converted to Islam.
“Your parents said the right thing because you can’t marry someone without knowing his background,” he claimed to have told her.
Daurawa said he supported the marriage but advised that certain things must be considered before the marriage because Islam is against racism and tribalism.
“Islam is against racism and tribalism but make sure you involved Nigeria Immigration in the marriage process because I witnessed how men with unknown family backgrounds got married and fled, leaving women with children’s responsibilities, the cleric narrated the phone conversation between him and the deceased.
“You have to contact Immigration whether he is legally staying in Nigeria, the business he is into, involved the Chinese Community in Kano to authenticate where he comes from. His background is important,” Daurawa added.
He said he also advised her to notify the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria about the planned wedding and involve the Kano Hisbah board to teach him how to practice Islam.
Daurawa said once these steps are completed, he planned to meet with her parents to convince them to allow the marriage to take place.
“It’s unfortunate, one week later, I leant that she was killed, it’s a very sad development, may her soul rest in peace,” the cleric prayed.
He urged Nigerian authorities to ensure that justice is served to serve as a deterrent to others and prevent the reoccurrence of the ugly incident.
Premium Times had earlier reported that the ongoing trial of the Chinese national, was stalled last Tuesday due to the absence of an interpreter.
Muhammad Dan’azumi, the defence counsel, notified the court that an interpreter had not been provided for the accused.
The case, which was originally slated to commence last week Monday, was adjourned to Tuesday due to a lack of legal representation for Mr. Quandong.
Initially, the police in Kano, North-west Nigeria, on 21 September, arraigned Mr Quandong before a magistrates court at Zangeru road in Kano.
At the hearing on Tuesday, Mr. Quandong addressed the court in Chinese, which made it difficult for the parties involved including the magistrate to comprehend the message.
The Magistrate, Sanusi Ma’aji, adjourned the case to 27 October, with the hope that an interpreter would have been found to explain the charges to Mr. Quandong in Chinese.