Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps officials NSCDC, Kaduna state command, arraigned on Tuesday July 7 a clergyman, Reverend Joseph Ma’aji, before the state ‘s chief magistrate court for allegedly raping his 16-year-old housemaid.
NSCDC legal officer prosecuting the case, Yayayi Jauro, told the court that the state social welfare office in Kakuri, Kaduna, on July 1, received a report of alleged sexual harassment and act of gross indecency against the Reverend. Jauro said that Ma’aji was reported to have been unlawfully having sexual intercourse on several occasions with his underaged maid, who was entrusted to him by her uncle, at his residence in Barnawa, Kaduna, since 2015.
According to Jauro, Ma’aji had been molesting the girl and requesting for sexual favours unjustifiably and had voluntarily confessed to have committed the crime during investigations.
“Medical reports from Gwamna Awan hospital here in Kaduna had also confirmed commission of the alleged offence”, Jauro said.
He said the crime infringed section 257, 260 and 262 of the 2017 Kaduna State Penal Code Law.
Upon listening to the case, Bashir Shittu, the chief magistrate, ordered Ma’aji to be remanded pending advice from the state prosecutor’s office. According to Magistrate Shittu, his court lacked the power to try the accused.
For further mention, he adjourned the case to 25 August.
