Chinese national, Geng Quangrong, who is alleged to have murdered his 22-year-old Nigerian girlfriend, Ummukulsum Sani, appeared in a Kano State High Court on Tuesday.
The 47-year-old is facing a count charge of culpable homicide, contrary to section 221 of Penal Code.
When the case came up for re-arraignment, the defence counsel Muhammad Dan’azumi urged the court to provide an interpreter for his client relying on Section 36(6)(a)(b)(c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“My Lord the defendant is not a Nigerian. The use of English in the court as a language may not be understood by my client and he may not understand the charge he is standing trial for.
“The defendant is entitled for an interpreter from English to Chinese language, he is exploring his constitutional rights,” he said.
The defendant was asked if he understands English language and he said no.
The prosecution counsel, Kano State Attorney General Musa Abdullahi-Lawan told the court that he had directed the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to write a letter to the Chinese Embassy and Chinese Community in Kano requesting an interpreter on behalf of the defendant.
“The defendant spoke good English at the last adjourned date of September 29. When we get an interpreter we will finish the case in a very short time” Abdullahi-Lawan said.
Justice Sanusi Ado-Ma’aji ordered the Kano State Government to write to the Chinese Embassy to provide an interpreter for the defendant.
He ordered the remand of the defendant in a Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter until October 27 for arraignment.
Sani was allegedly stabbed to death in her Kabuga quarters in Kano.
