Seven years after the demise of 13‑yr‑outdated Ochanya Ogbanje who died from sexual abuse issues, Nigerians have renewed requires justice in her case, notably demanding the arrest of a key suspect accused of serially raping her.
Victor Ogbuja, the son of a lecturer on the Benue State Polytechnic in Ugbokolo, Andrew Ogbuja, has been wished since he was declared wished over the case in 2018.
Fugitive Victor, was accused alongside together with his father, Mr Ogbuja, who’re each maternal relations of the deceased, of serially raping her till she fell sick and subsequently died.
However on 22 April 2022, the Benue State Excessive Courtroom in Makurdi, Benue State, acquitted Mr Ogbuja of raping and inflicting the demise of Ochanya.
But, on the identical day, the Federal Excessive Courtroom additionally in Makurdi, in a separate case, convicted his spouse, Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, who was the direct guardian of Ochanya, for negligence exposing the kid to rape.
The federal courtroom jailed Ms Ochiga-Ogbuja 5 months with out an choice of high quality for failing to guard the kid from her husband, however the state Excessive Courtroom, about the identical time, exonerated the person.
Victor, the couple’s son, has remained at massive since he obtained wind of the plan to arrest him by the police in 2018, and has but to face trial.
Ochanya, a Junior Secondary College pupil on the Federal Authorities Ladies School, Gboko in Benue State, died on 17 October 2018, following issues linked to years of alleged sexual abuse by Mr Ogbuja and his son Victor.
Docs had identified Ochanya with Vesico‑Vaginal Fistula (VVF), a complication attributed to extended sexual abuse.
Her demise sparked nationwide and worldwide outrage, with protests and advocacy led by child‑ and gender‑rights groups.
Social media outrage surfaces
Seven years after Ochanya’s demise, Nigerians on social media have reignited requires justice.
The renewed outrage comes days after Ochanya’s seventh demise anniversary which was held in Abuja.
Social media customers throughout X, Fb, and TikTok have demanded that authorities reopen the case and apprehend Victor Ogbuja.
The advocacy has additionally focussed on a younger lady recognized as Winifred (@Winifunds on X), the daughter of Mr Ogbuja, who PREMIUM TIMES confirmed deactivated her account on Wednesday following intense backlash.
Though Winifred has not been accused of any crime, on-line customers circulated screenshots and images allegedly displaying her and her brother (not Victor).
Some steered she must be “invited for questioning,” implying—with out proof—that she could have benefited from or shielded the accused.
“Winifred is trending and right here is why. Stroll with me,” one X consumer wrote, summarising the case and calling for nearer scrutiny of the household.
Nigerian social media character Tunde Ednut additionally reacted to the renewed outrage in an Instagram publish shared together with his 8.7 million followers:
“Day-after-day, we hold listening to unhappy information right here and there. What’s going on in Nigeria? A father and son are alleged to have abused a bit woman till she died. That is unhappy and this woman should get justice. Ochanya should get justice.”
Ednut’s publish, which had greater than 34,000 likes and over 4,000 feedback, careworn stronger safety for kids in Nigeria:
“God, please get this woman justice. I’m simply unhappy about this information. This isn’t acceptable. NOTE: This web page doesn’t assist any type of violence. Keep protected on the market and say NO to crime.”
A petition on Change.org titled “Justice for Ochanya” can be gathering signatures, calling for authorities to reopen the case and convey the lacking suspects to ebook.
Baby rights activist Betty Abah additionally lamented the continued absence of Victor Ogbuja and known as on authorities—together with the Benue State Authorities, Nigeria Police Pressure, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Ladies Affairs, and the Lagos State Home and Sexual Violence Company—to reopen the case.
“Andrew Ogbuja was acquitted by a Benue State Excessive Courtroom, whereas Felicia Ogbuja, Ochanya’s aunt and guardian, was sentenced to 5 months’ imprisonment for negligence. Victor Ogbuja fled and stays at massive.
“Stories recommend he’s now in Lagos pursuing a music profession, regardless of an arrest warrant. It’s time to reopen and pursue this case to make sure that, even in demise, Ochanya will get justice,” Ms Abah wrote on her Fb web page.
Ms Abah additional urged that the case function a rallying level to strengthen youngster safety and combat sexual abuse across Nigeria.
Authorized proceedings
The Courtroom of Enchantment in Makurdi has since affirmed Mrs Ochiga-Ogbuja’s conviction, describing her negligent conduct as “heinous” and “devoid of sympathy.
Delivering judgement through Zoom in November 2022, a 3‑member panel of judges led by a choose Hassan Muslim, dominated that she “omitted to take motion towards the sexual exploitation of Ochanya by her husband and her son.”
The Courtroom of Enchantment held that such an omission constituted a punishable offence below Part 344 of the Prison Code Act.
Mr Muslim described the offence as a “crime of omission,” noting that Mrs Ochiga-Ogbuja had a authorized responsibility to guard Ochanya and failed to take action, regardless of being alerted by her personal daughter, Winifred Ogbuja.
He emphasised that the hurt Ochanya suffered prolonged past her sickness to the abuse itself and that Felicia’s conduct “deserves extra time of imprisonment to discourage others of like minds.”
The courtroom additionally counseled Ochanya’s caregiver, Enewa Soo, the Worldwide Federation of Ladies Legal professionals (FIDA), and the Nationwide Company for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Individuals (NAPTIP) for guaranteeing the case reached the courts regardless of makes an attempt by the Ogbuja household to deal with it as a “household matter.”
The Benue State Excessive Courtroom had acquitted Mr Ogbuja of rape, whereas his son Victor stays on the run, however the judgement of the Federal Excessive Courtroom and the Courtroom of Enchantment have alluded to their culpability within the rape case, the idea for Mrs Ochiga-Ogbuja’s conviction.
Victor has remained at massive since being declared wished by police in 2018. Stories recommend that he’s at the moment in Lagos, pursuing a music profession, though this has not been independently verified.
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Quest for higher life went unhealthy
Ochanya left her rural dwelling in Ogene‑Amejo to stay with the Ogbujas in Ugbokolo, looking for higher instructional alternatives.
Over a interval of 5 years, she reportedly suffered repeated sexual abuse by Mr Ogbuja, who was later acquitted by courtroom, and his son Victor.
She was admitted to the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi for 2 months earlier than succumbing to issues from VVF and died in October 2018.
