How Kannywood actress who killed boyfriend in 2012 was re-arrested

By Aliyu Askira

It is a common saying that you cannot eat your cake and also have it. Rabi Ismail aka Cecilia, a Kannywood actress, who allegedly killed her boyfriend named Ibrahim Auwalu Zazu about 5 years ago has been arrested two weeks ago along Lagos – Benin Republic Boarder.
The mother of 3 namely Sadiq 28, Zaid 27 and Abdul 26, was arrested and sentenced to death by Supreme Court but later escaped from Hadejia Prison.
Born in Tudun Wada Quarters of Kano Metropolis, though hails from Auchi, Rabi featured in 3 Hausa films in 2000 and 2001 namely: ‘Tsumagiya’, ‘Aya’ and ‘Manakisa’.

The actress was on 25th December, 2002 said to have given her boyfriend Auwalu Zazu an Eclairs Chocolate which contained sleeping tablets and when he became unconscious after taking the chocolate, Rabi, in company of her friends, pushed him into Tiga Dam where they went for a picnic. The victim later died in the Dam.
Legal experts in the country have opined that, this offence committed by Rabi is punishable under section 221(b) of the penal code, adding that whoever is found guilty under this section, will be sentenced to death. “If the victim is a female, she will be sentenced to death by hanging,” they said.

According to a reliable source, the actress allegedly killed the said victim, who is from a very rich family in Kano, with the intention of trying to inherit his wealth.
It could be recalled that Rabi was thereafter the incident charged before Kano high Court where she was found guilty and was sentenced to death by hanging. She was then promptly reminded in a prison in Kano among those waiting to be executed.
Not satisfied by this judgment, her defence Lawyer, Barrister Taiwo I. Taiwo appealed to Kaduna Court of Appeal and after series of submissions and counter submissions, the Kaduna Court of Appeal upheld the judgment of Kano High Court.
Accordingly, in July, 2011 the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in a unanimous judgment by Seven Justices led by Justice Francis Fedode affirmed that Rabi’s appeal has no merit and ruled that she should die by hanging because her Lawyers have failed to prove that she is innocent.

Rabi was actually in detention for 9 years before the verdict of death sentence was passed on her.
During these series of appeal, Rabi was moved from Kano Prison to Kaduna Prison where, according to a competent source from Kaduna Prison, she became so powerful and rich through selling of hard drugs, marijuana and Cigarettes with the connivance of senior prisons officials.
The said further that, “in fact, during the period, Rabi spent most of her time out of the prison attending parties and sleeping in senior officers houses.”
“When Supreme Court pronounce her guilty and that she should be hanged, she was moved to Hadejia Prison and in that prison, Rabi seduced one of the prison officials and they started a very serious relationship.

“She convinced him that she had over Hundred Million in her bamk account and that if he could arrange visa for the two of them and facilitate her escape from the prison, they woild leave Nigeria and go and marry in the United States of America where they will live for the rest of their life,” the source pointed out.
The Rabi Ismail Saga was one of the serious scandals that rocked the Kannywood Hausa Industry in Kano state. In 2007, it could also be recalled, during the Shekarau Administration, the Hiyana Sex Scandal video was leaked, that almost pull the industry down.

Also, some actors and actresses were also sent to prison by Abubakar Rabo, the then Director General of Kano Film and Censorship Board.
Notable actors and actresses like Late Rabilu Musa Ibro, Adam A. Zango, Sani Danja, Hamisu Iyantama were either sent to prison or banned from acting.
However, the Secretary General of MOPPAN Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN), Mallam Ahmad Salihu Alkanawy told Blueprint in an interview that, as far as he is concerned, Rabi Ismail is not a member of Kannywood even though she featured in 3 films.

Alkanawy quickly added that though they have witnessed series of scandals in the industry, this of Rabi Ismail is capable destroying the image of Kannywood.
However, Rabi Ismail’s mother, Hajiya Jummai Asmau told our correspondent in her Tudun Wada resident, Kano that Rabi did not commit the offence which she was being accused of, adding that when she personally visited Rabi when she was in Hadejia Prison during fasting she asked her to tell her the truth if she actually committed the offence but Rabi denied. She told her that she was only framed up, even though most of the eye witnesses that testified against her.

An unconfirmed source told our correspondent that the late Auwalu Zazu was said to have left millions of Naira and properties behind and his relations vowed to use the money to sponsor Ulamas that will pray to ensure that Rabi did not escape justice.
The source said: “And even when Rabi escaped from Hadejia Prison, they intensified their prayers and that is why about two weeks ago, members of Nigerian Security Agencies operating along Lagos – Benin Boarder re-arrested Rabi Ismail.”
Some senior prison officials who spoke to our correspondent in confidence confirmed that Rabi is now undergoing interrogation at Kuje Prison Abuja.

The officials added: “Those who facilitated her escape in Hadejia prison were merely demoted while some where transferred to other prisons across the country to continue with their duties.
Though that has become a subject of the debate among prison officials because, according to them, those who allowed Rabi to escape supposed to be dismissed from the service to serve as a lesson to others.

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