4th January, 2012
Rabi Ismaila, the Nigerian actress who was recently sentenced to death by hanging, has escaped from the Hadejia prison in Jigawa State while awaiting the hangman.
It was learnt that the actress, popularly called Rabi Cecelia by her fans, escaped without a trace in the presence of six prison warders who were on duty that night.
P.M.NEWS learnt that before her escape, the actress became the favourite of the prison officials as she was humble and respectful.
She also won their admiration with her acting prowess.
However, they did not know that her new character was a ploy to catch them unawares.
The six officials who were on duty at the time of her escape have been arrested are currently being interrogated over the issue, P.M.NEWS gathered.
When contacted, an official of the prison said: “I just told an officer in charge of the prison that it is a clear insider plot because there is no way the actress could have escaped from Hadejia prison without the help of an insider.â€
Rabi, who is believed to be a well-known lesbian and had many lovers, was sentenced after she allegedly poisoned a chocolate sweet and lured her boyfriend to eat it. She was aid to have drowned him at the Tiga dam in Kano when the victim became unconscious.
Rabi was also accused of removing N10,000 from his pocket before pushing him into the dam.
She was sentenced by the Supreme Court on 8 July, 2011 after the apex court upheld the judgement of a High Court sitting in Kano.
—Madu Nmeribeh/Kano