Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has presented a petition to the Senate seeking to investigate the alleged sexual abuse that led to the death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje in Benue State.
The petition is urging the senators to also probe the failure of the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute Victor Ogbuja, accused alongside his father, Andrew Ogbuja, for allegedly committing the abuse that led to the death of the minor.
Her petition, submitted by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on behalf of human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong in plenary on Wednesday, also faulted the Benue State Government for not appealing the 2022 judgement that discharged and acquitted Andrew Ogbuja.
According to the petition addressed to the President of the Senate, Ochanya, a student of the Federal Government Girls’ College, Gboko, died in October 2018 after suffering health complications allegedly resulting from prolonged abuse while living with the Ogbuja family in Ugbokolo, Okpokwu Local Government Area.
A medical report from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, was cited as part of the evidence used in the conviction of Mrs. Felicia Ogbuja by the Federal High Court in 2022 for failing in her duty of care to the child.
Effiong stated that despite widespread public concern, the police had not arrested Victor Ogbuja, who fled when the allegations became public. He recalled that although Andrew Ogbuja was briefly arrested in 2018, he was later released under controversial circumstances.
Credit: The Sun