A Katsina State High Court has sentenced two domestic workers to death by hanging for the murder of former Katsina State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Rabe Nasir, in 2021.
Justice I.I. Mashi of High Court 9 delivered the judgment, convicting Shamsu Lawal, the late commissioner’s security guard, and Tasi’u Rabi’u, his cook, of poisoning their employer after a failed robbery attempt. Medical reports and police investigations confirmed the presence of poison in Nasir’s body, supporting the prosecution’s case.
In the same trial, a third accused, Sani Sa’adu — another former guard — received a five-year prison sentence for concealing information about the murder. However, the court acquitted a fourth defendant, Gift Bako, due to insufficient evidence. Her lawyer welcomed the decision, stating that justice had prevailed.
Counsel to the convicted men, Murtala Kankia, appealed for mercy, citing their family responsibilities. Nonetheless, the prosecution described the verdict as a fair application of the law and a victory for justice.
The late Rabe Nasir was a prominent public servant who also served as a federal lawmaker representing Mani and Bindawa constituencies in 2003. Prior to his political career, he worked with Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS).
The ruling marks a significant step in concluding a case that drew widespread attention across Katsina and beyond.