Seven years after the death of 13‑year‑old Ochanya Ogbanje who died from sexual abuse complications, Nigerians have renewed calls for justice in her case, particularly demanding the arrest of a key suspect accused of serially raping her.
Victor Ogbuja, the son of a lecturer at the Benue State Polytechnic in Ugbokolo, Andrew Ogbuja, has been wanted since he was declared wanted over the case in 2018.
Fugitive Victor, was accused along with his father, Mr Ogbuja, who are both maternal relations of the deceased, of serially raping her until she fell ill and subsequently died.
But on 22 April 2022, the Benue State High Court in Makurdi, Benue State, acquitted Mr Ogbuja of raping and causing the death of Ochanya.
Yet, on the same day, the Federal High Court also in Makurdi, in a separate case, convicted his wife, Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, who was the direct guardian of Ochanya, for negligence exposing the child to rape.
The federal court jailed Ms Ochiga-Ogbuja five months with
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