The Katsina State High Court on Wednesday handed down death sentences to two men convicted of murdering a former Katsina State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Rabe Nasir, in 2021.
Justice Ibrahim Mashi, presiding at High Court 9, ruled that Shamsu Lawal, a former security guard, and Tasi’u Rabi’u, Nasir’s cook, were guilty of intentionally poisoning the late commissioner after multiple failed robbery attempts.
According to court records, a joint autopsy conducted by the police and medical experts confirmed the presence of lethal substances in the commissioner’s body, ultimately leading to the capital punishment verdict.
Another suspect, Sani Sa’adu, also a former guard, was sentenced to five years imprisonment for concealing vital information about the murder. Meanwhile, a woman named Gift Bako was acquitted due to insufficient evidence linking her to the crime.
During the final hearing, defense counsel Ahmad Murtala Kankia appealed for leniency, citing the convicts’ responsibilities to their families. However, the court proceeded with the sentencing.
The late Rabe Nasir, a respected political figure, served under former Governor Aminu Masari and was a federal lawmaker for Mani and Bindawa local governments in 2003.
The ruling marks a significant legal milestone in the pursuit of justice for politically motivated crimes in the state.
