Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) today presented a petition to the Nigerian Senate calling for an immediate investigation into the 2018 d4ath of 13-year-old Ochanya Elizabeth Ogbanje and the arrest and prosecution of the remaining suspect, Victor Ogbuja, who has been a fugitive for seven years
The petition, brought on behalf of Inibehe Effiong Chambers, accuses certain individuals of shielding the perpetrators and obstructing justice since Ochanya died on 17 October 2018 from complications arising from prolonged se.xual abuse.
Ochanya had been sent at the age of five to live with her maternal aunt, Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, and the aunt’s husband, Andrew Ogbuja, a lecturer at Benue State Polytechnic.
From the age of six, she was said to have been repeatedly r3ped by both Andrew Ogbuja and his son Victor, leading to vesicovaginal fistula, faecal incontinence and ultimately her d4ath.
In 2022, a Benue State High Court acquitted Andrew Ogbuja of r8pe and culpable homicide for lack of sufficient evidence.
His wife, Felicia, was convicted only of negligence and sentenced to five months in prison. Victor Ogbuja jumped bail shortly after charges were filed in 2018 and has never been rearrested, despite an outstanding warrant.
During plenary, Senator Akpoti told the Senate that the case exposed a systemic failure to protect Nigerian children and to hold child rapists accountable.
She 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.”
“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.”
“has lingered due to alleged interference, intimidation of witnesses, and attempts to downplay the crime.”
“This Senate must send a strong message that the lives of Nigerian children matter and that justice cannot be negotiated,” she added.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio confirmed there are no subsisting court orders preventing legislative action and referred the petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen, for prompt investigation and report.
Public demands for justice have continued, with the hashtag #JusticeForOchanya trending again last month on the seventh anniversary of the girl’s d4ath.
The victim’s family says they still face threats for refusing to drop the matter.
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 presented a petition to the Nigerian Senate calling for an immediate investigation into the 2018 death of 13-year-old Ochanya Elizabeth Ogbanje and the arrest and prosecution of the remaining suspect, Victor Ogbuja, who has been a fugitive for seven years.){kind=link}