A Katsina High Court has sentenced two former domestic staff members to death by hanging for their involvement in the murder of Rabe Nasir, the former Commissioner for Science and Technology in Katsina State.
The court found Shamsu Lawal, a security guard, and Tasi’u Rabi’u, a cook, guilty of poisoning Nasir during a failed robbery attempt at his private residence in 2021.
The trial revealed that the accused conspired to rob the commissioner and resorted to poisoning him, which ultimately led to his death. Evidence presented in court included an autopsy report that confirmed the presence of poison in Nasir’s body. The prosecution argued that the poisoning was deliberate and intended to facilitate the robbery.
Throughout the trial, the defendants maintained their innocence, but the court found their explanations unsatisfactory. After evaluating testimonies from witnesses and forensic reports, the judge concluded that the accused had committed a premeditated murder.
The court’s verdict reflects the judiciary’s firm stance against violent crimes, especially those targeting public officials. The death sentence serves as a warning against criminal acts that undermine the rule of law and public safety. The judgment emphasizes that those who resort to violence and criminality will face the full weight of the law without leniency.
This ruling marks a significant development in the effort to uphold justice for victims of violent crimes in Katsina State and reinforces the commitment to protecting citizens from such heinous acts.
