Rabe Nasir: Guard, cook sentenced to d£ath for poisoning ex-Katsina commissioner

A Katsina State High Court has sentenced two men to death by hanging for the 2021 murder of Rabe Nasir, the former Commissioner for Science and Technology in the state.

The convicts, Shamsu Lawal and Tasi’u Rabi’u, who served as Nasir’s guard and cook respectively, were found guilty of poisoning the late commissioner following a failed robbery attempt. The court, presided over by Justice I.I. Mashi, ruled that hospital investigations confirmed the presence of poison in Nasir’s system, corroborating police findings.

In addition to the death sentences, the court handed a five-year prison term to another former guard, Sani Sa’adu, for withholding information about the crime. A fourth defendant, Gift Bako, was acquitted due to lack of evidence linking her to the murder. Her defense counsel applauded the ruling, describing it as a true reflection of justice.

Prosecution and defense lawyers commended the fairness of the trial process. While the defense pleaded for leniency on the grounds of the convicts’ family responsibilities, the prosecution maintained that the sentence delivered justice and conformed with legal standards.

The late Rabe Nasir was a respected political figure in Katsina. Aside from his role as commissioner under former Governor Aminu Masari, he also served as a federal legislator representing Mani and Bindawa local government areas in 2003. Nasir had a professional background in the State Security Service (SSS).

The court’s verdict brings closure to a high-profile case that shocked the Katsina political landscape and sparked public outcry over the murder of a serving official.