Police in Kwara have arrested a fuji musician and President of the performing Musician Association of Nigeria in Kwara State, Alhaji Maroof Adebayo popularly known as Marufu Alujo for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl on May 31.
According to Sahara Reporters, the 15-year-old girl alleged that she was lured into a room by the musician who allegedly overpowered her and then raped her.
The girl who sells snacks for her mother while narrating how she was allegedly raped by the fuji musician in a video obtained by Sahara Reporters said;
“On May 31, 2020, I went to hawk and he bought items worth N300 and told me to come back for the money.
When I got there, I met him in his wife’s room; he entered another room and asked me to come inside. I told him no but he insisted that I come in, saying he cannot harm me and that we were not strangers to each other.
He said he noticed that I have a challenge in school and he will help me and buy me a phone today. He asked me if I am a virgin and I told him yes. He asked if I am lying, I said no, that I am a virgin. He closed the door and pushed me to the bed. He raped me and while I shouted, nobody came out. He tore my cloth by the side and had sex with me.
I cried and went out. His wife asked me what happened and I told her that her husband raped me. She begged me and asked me to keep it as a secret and that’s how her husband does.”
Speaking on the development, residents of the area said the musician was notorious for perpetuating the evil act in different communities in Offa and Oyun local government areas.
“In the past, he is reported to have had serious problems with law enforcement agencies over similar cases, some of which had led to his incarceration at the state’s correctional facilities.
He raped a 15-year-old girl in 2011, he forced the girl to play with his penis while he recorded her.
According to one of Adebayo’s neighbours, the matter is at the station but family and friends prevailed on the victim’s mother to drop the matter.
The popular fuji musician, Adebayo denied the allegation when contacted.
Adebayo said he didn’t rape the girl.
He stressed that though he was alone with the girl in a room, he did not assault or rape her.
”I bought puff-puff from her, I had N1,000 and told her to come back for her money. When she came back, I was in a room and told her to come and meet me. When she entered, she said she needed a phone and I showed her one but she said she does not like it. She left only to come back with her sister and mother who accused me of raping her.”
It was learnt that Adebayo is currently detained at the Kwara Police Command in Ilorin, the state capital.
Reacting on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the incident.
Okasanmi said the police had commenced investigation into the case.
“The police is quite aware of the case, the Commissioner of Police has ordered a discreet investigation of the matter” he said.