Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has forwarded a petition to the Senate, urging an urgent probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje.
Akpoti-Uduaghan submitted the petition on Wednesday on behalf of Inibehe Effiong Chambers during plenary, accusing some individuals of attempting to “shield those responsible from accountability.”
Ochanya, a student of the Federal Government Girls College, Gboko, died on October 17, 2018, following reported complications linked to prolonged sexual abuse.
The petition demands the arrest and prosecution of the prime suspect, Victor Ogbuja, and urges the Benue State Government to challenge the acquittal of his father, Andrew Ogbuja.
According to the petition, Ochanya lived with the Ogbuja family from age five and was repeatedly sexually abused by both Andrew and his son Victor, leading to severe health complications and her eventual death.
The petition also criticises the Nigeria Police Force for failing to rearrest Victor after he absconded, and condemns the state government’s refusal to appeal the High Court ruling freeing Andrew Ogbuja.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said, “This petition is on the refusal to arrest and prosecute Victor and Andrew Ogbuja, for the rape to death of a 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje.
“Ms Ochanya was sent to live with her maternal aunt, Felicia Ogbuja, at the age of five, in pursuit of better education.
“But unfortunately, her uncle, who is the husband of her maternal aunt, named Andrew Ogbuja, and his son, Victor Ogbuja, took turns to rape her from the age of six to 13, where she died.”
She added that Ochanya “suffered severe violations for years, yet justice continues to be delayed and denied.”
She further said, “It was reported that she developed VVF, which is the medical term for vesicovaginal fistula, also the fecal urinary incontinence.
“And this was basically because she was raped from her vagina and anus daily. This case represents a failure of the system to protect a child.”
The Kogi lawmaker said the matter “has lingered due to alleged interference, intimidation of witnesses, and attempts to downplay the crime.”
She urged the Senate to ensure justice for the family and called for a comprehensive review of how children’s rights cases are handled in Nigeria.
“This Senate must send a strong message that the lives of Nigerian children matter and that justice cannot be negotiated,” she added.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, noting no ongoing legal proceedings, referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen, for review.
Last month, on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of Ochanya’s death, celebrities lent their voices to the demands for justice.
The hashtag #JusticeForOchanya went viral across X, Instagram, and TikTok, with thousands of posts demanding accountability.
A Benue State High Court acquitted Andrew Ogbuja in April 2022, citing insufficient evidence, as Justice Augustine Ityonyiman ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the rape and death charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, Ochanya’s aunt, received a five-month sentence without a fine for negligence from the Federal High Court in Makurdi, convicted for failing to protect Ochanya despite knowing about the abuse.
Victor Ogbuja has also reportedly been on the run since the police tried to arrest him.
Ochanya’s family faced ongoing threats after the trial, with her uncle, Mr Michael Ogbanje, reporting to PUNCH that unidentified individuals threatened their lives to silence their pursuit of justice.
He appealed to the Federal Government, the Inspector-General of Police, and advocacy groups for protection and justice. https://punchng.com/ochanya-family-cries-out-over-threat-to-lives/
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