Chinese woman

Kano court remands Chinese woman over forgery, property damage

By Uzair Adam

A High Court in Kano State on Tuesday ordered the remand of Zhang Qunfang, a Chinese national, in a correctional facility over allegations of forgery and destruction of property belonging to Huafei International Nigeria Ltd., located at No. 52 Hadejia Road, Gezawa District Area, Kano.

During the arraignment before Justice Ma’aji, prosecution counsel Eristio Asaph from the Force Headquarters legal department presented a charge filed on October 3, 2024, requesting the court’s approval to read the charges to the defendant.

However, defense counsel Ibrahim Abdullahi Chedi opposed the reading, contending that the case was not ready for arraignment as Qunfang had only received the charges that day.

He noted that Qunfang, arrested by INTERPOL in Abuja, had been granted administrative bail and argued that, according to Section 127 Sub 2 of the ACJL 2019, the defendant should be served seven days prior.

The prosecution responded that the defendant had refused to accept the charge sheet post-release on bail. After reviewing both sides, Justice Ma’aji granted permission to proceed with reading the two-count charge.

According to the charge, Qunfang allegedly forged the signature of Mr. Zhu Bin, a company client, to add her name as a signatory and used her access to withdraw $80,000 from the company’s account without approval from other directors.

Additionally, she is accused of intentionally demolishing a building owned by Huafei International Nigeria Ltd.

The prosecution asserted that these acts violate sections of the Penal Code Law. Qunfang pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court adjourned the session to November 1, 2024, to address the defense’s bail application and ordered her remand in custody pending the hearing.