The Katsina State High Court 9, presided over by Justice I.I. Mashi, has sentenced two men to death for the murder of the former Commissioner for Science and Technology in Katsina State, the late Honourable Rabe Nasir, in 2021. The court confirmed that Shamsu Lawal, the former guard of the deceased, and Tasi'u Rabi'u, who worked as a cook in the deceased's house, poisoned Rabe Nasir, leading to his death. This was after they failed to steal from him, so they resorted to poisoning him. This was confirmed by hospital investigations, which showed poison in the deceased's body, and police investigation evidence.

Apart from the death sentence for the two men, the court also sentenced a former guard, Sani Sa'adu, to five years in prison for concealing the truth about the murder. On the other hand, the court acquitted a girl named Gift Bako, due to lack of sufficient evidence linking her to the crime. Her lawyer, Barista Shedrack, welcomed the court's verdict, stating it was based on truth. Lawyers from all sides expressed satisfaction with the trial process and the verdict.

The lawyer for the convicts, Barista Ahmad Murtala Kankia, pleaded for leniency, emphasizing that the convicts have families and dependents. However, the prosecution lawyer expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating it was in line with the law and justice was served. Representatives from Katsina Times who attended the court session reported that the convicts were visibly shaken when security officials took them away to prison. There was also visible joy and relief on the faces of Gift Bako's family and lawyers after her acquittal.

The late Rabe Nasir served as the Commissioner for Science and Technology in Katsina State during the administration of former Governor Aminu Bello Masari. He was also a federal legislator representing Mani and Bindawa local governments in 2003 and had previously worked as an officer in the DSS. There are also two other individuals involved in the case who have filed a lawsuit in a Kaduna High Court, seeking to halt the proceedings in Katsina. Katsina Times will bring you a special report on this matter.