Justice Ibrahim Mashi of Katsina High Court has sentenced two former domestic staff to death by hanging for the 2021 murder of Rabe Nasir, a former Katsina State Commissioner for Science and Technology.

The court ruled that Shamsu Lawal, a security guard, and Tasi’u Rabi’u, a cook, were guilty of poisoning the commissioner after failing to rob him. The court heard that the duo conspired to commit the crime within the premises of Nasir’s private residence in Katsina.

Autopsy reports presented during the trial confirmed the presence of poison in the late commissioner’s body, validating the prosecution’s case.

A third suspect, Sani Sa’adu, another guard, was sentenced to five years in prison for withholding information about the murder. Meanwhile, a female defendant, Gift Bako, was discharged and acquitted due to lack of evidence.

The defence counsel, Ahmad Murtala Kankia, appealed for leniency on behalf of the convicted men, citing their family responsibilities. However, the court maintained its stance, ordering their immediate remand in custody.

Nasir, a former member of the House of Representatives and officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), served as commissioner during the tenure of former governor Aminu Bello Masari. His death sparked outrage and widespread condolences across political circles.