The Jigawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has suspended the party’s chairman in Roni Local Government Area, Saleh Idris, over allegations of raping and impregnating his 14-year-old housemaid.

This was contained in a statement signed by the state chairman, Aminu Sani Gumel, and made available to the press.

A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Dutse, the state capital, had remanded Idris over the allegation.

It was reported that Idris was arrested by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps on October 4 following a complaint by the victim’s brother.

The NSCDC’s spokesperson in the state, Adamu Shehu, also confirmed in a statement that the minor, after a laboratory test, was carrying “a healthy pregnancy of about four months and two weeks.”

The APC statement read in part, “Following the allegation of rape and impregnation of minor and the outcome of preliminary investigation of the state chapter, the party has come up with the following resolutions:

“That your act contravened Section 21.2 (viii) and (x) of the APC 2022 Constitution as amended and that there is a need for further investigations.

“That (the party agreed) on the need for further investigation on the matter. Consequently, you are hereby suspended from the chairmanship of the party of Roni Local Government Area spending final report of investigation.”

The party also ordered him to hand over its affairs to the local government area’s vice chairman. (The PUNCH: Text, Excluding Headline)