Two men sentenced to death for poisoning ex-Katsina Commissioner Rabe Nasir in 2021.
Court also jailed one accomplice and cleared a suspect due to lack of evidence.
A Katsina State High Court has sentenced two men to death over the 2021 killing of Rabe Nasir, a former Commissioner for Science and Technology in the state.
The judgment, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Ibrahim Mashi of High Court 9, found the late commissioner’s former guard, Shamsu Lawal, and his cook, Tasi’u Rabi’u, guilty of poisoning him.
The court heard that the two men attempted to rob Nasir but failed. They later resorted to poisoning him, which led to his death. A joint autopsy by the police and medical personnel confirmed traces of poison in his system.
Another former guard, Sani Sa’adu, was convicted for hiding information related to the case. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
However, the court discharged and acquitted one Gift Bako, a woman initially linked to the crime. The judge ruled that there was not enough evidence to prove her involvement.
During the hearing, the convicts’ lawyer, Ahmad Murtala Kankia, pleaded with the court to show mercy, pointing out that the men had families who depended on them.
Rabe Nasir served as Commissioner under former Governor Aminu Bello Masari. He also represented Mani and Bindawa federal constituency in the House of Representatives in 2003.
