Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has submitted a petition to the Senate calling for an urgent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje.
The petition, submitted on Wednesday on behalf of Inibehe Effiong Chambers during plenary, alleges that some individuals have attempted to “shield those responsible from accountability.”
Ochanya, a student at the Federal Government Girls College, Gboko, died on October 17, 2018, reportedly from complications linked to prolonged sexual abuse.
The petition demands the arrest and prosecution of the prime suspect, Victor Ogbuja, and calls on the Benue State Government to challenge the acquittal of his father, Andrew Ogbuja. According to the petition, Ochanya lived with the Ogbuja family from the age of five and was repeatedly sexually abused by both Andrew and Victor, resulting in severe health complications that led to her death.
The petition also criticizes 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.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said: “This petition concerns the refusal to arrest and prosecute Victor and Andrew Ogbuja for the rape to death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje. She was sent to live with her maternal aunt, Felicia Ogbuja, at age five for better education. Tragically, her uncle, Andrew Ogbuja, and his son Victor repeatedly raped her from age six until her death at 13.”
She added that Ochanya “suffered severe violations for years, yet justice continues to be delayed and denied,” noting that the girl developed vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) due to the repeated abuse.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further highlighted systemic failures, saying, “This case represents a failure of the system to protect a child. The matter has lingered due to alleged interference, intimidation of witnesses, and attempts to downplay the crime.”
The senator urged the Senate to ensure justice for Ochanya’s 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.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen, for review.
On the seventh anniversary of Ochanya’s death, celebrities amplified calls for justice on social media, with the hashtag #JusticeForOchanya trending on X, Instagram, and TikTok.
A Benue State High Court acquitted Andrew Ogbuja in April 2022, citing insufficient evidence, while Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, Ochanya’s aunt, was sentenced to five months in prison for negligence by the Federal High Court in Makurdi. Victor Ogbuja, the prime suspect, remains at large.
