Nicki Minaj brother Jelani charged with rape
Nicki Minaj's brother Jelani Maraj was charged with raping a 12-year-old child. Pictured: Nicki Minaj at the MTV VMAs in Los Angeles on Aug. 30, 2015. Getty Images

Nicki Minaj's (real name Onika Tanya Maraj) older brother Jelani Maraj is charged with raping a minor. The 37-year-old man was arraigned Thursday on Long Island, New York, on first-degree rape and first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child.

According to Newsday, the alleged victim is 12 years old. Details about the incident, including when and where it happened, have not been released. The outlet also reports that Maraj was released from a Nassau County jail this week on $100,000 bail.

So far, the "Anaconda" rapper has not commented on the incident. Minaj has always proclaimed a close bond with her siblings, who also include a sister named Ming Maraj and two other brothers named Brandon Lamar and Micaiah Maraj.

In August, she posted a photo of herself and Jelani Maraj at his wedding, writing in the caption: “I would cross the ocean for u. I would go & bring u the moon. Promise u. For u I will. I love my brother so much man. Can’t believe….. May God bless him and his union. Tonight has been one of my favorite nights of all time. I do anything to see my brothers smile.”

Page Six reported at the time that Minaj chipped in $30,000 for her brother's wedding to Jacqueline Robinson.

Last year in an interview with Complex, Minaj said that in her family, she has always been the “voice of reason.”

“I’ve always taken control and tried to lead and tried to be the one to help my family stay on the right path,” she said. “When I’m not there, and something doesn’t work out, I always think to myself, ‘If I was there, this wouldn’t have happened.’”

RELATED STORIES