A 56-year-old chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Roni local government area of Jigawa State, Saleh Idris, has been arrested for allegedly raping and impregnating his housemaid.
He was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Wednesday, following a complaint lodged by the victim’s brother that the suspect raped and impregnated his 14-year-old sister, who was a house-help at the suspect’s residence.
The case was reported at NSCDC Roni LGA Division after a failed agreement reached at the Hisbah office on taking responsibility. Instead, the APC chieftain was said to be pressurising the family to abort the pregnancy.
The victim’s first encounter with the suspect was when the suspect offered her a drink when his wife was not at home, which made her lose consciousness and he had carnal knowledge of her.
When the victim regained her consciousness, he threatened her not to tell anyone or risk losing her monthly allowances and as a result, the ugly trend continued repeatedly without her telling anyone until pregnancy surfaced.
Spokesman of the Jigawa State Command of the NSCDC, CSC Adamu Shehu, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued to journalists.
CSC Adamu said upon interrogation, the suspect denied the allegation and the case has been taken to court.
He said the case is contrary to Section 3 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of Jigawa State and is punishable under the same Act.