Senator Natasha, who represents Kogi Central, presented the petition on behalf of a legal chamber, calling for a fresh look into the circumstances surrounding Ochanya’s death. Ochanya, a student of the Federal Government Girls College in Gboko, died in October 2018 after years of reported abuse while living with relatives in Benue State.
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The petition asked for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the main suspect, Victor Ogbuja, who was said to have gone into hiding after initial police attempts to arrest him. It also called on the Benue State Government to challenge the court decision that cleared Andrew Ogbuja, the father of the prime suspect, who was freed by a High Court in April 2022 due to lack of sufficient evidence.
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It was stated that Ochanya had been living with the Ogbuja family from the age of five and suffered repeated abuse over several years, which led to serious health problems and later death. The petition criticised the police for not making further efforts to re-arrest the suspect after he escaped, and faulted the state government for not appealing the court’s ruling.
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The senator told the Senate that the case had faced delays because of alleged interference, threats to witnesses, and attempts to weaken the case. She asked lawmakers to make sure justice is done for the child’s family and to review how child abuse and rights cases are handled across the country.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for proper review, noting that there was no active court case at the moment.
In recent weeks, public attention returned to the case as many celebrities and social media users renewed calls for justice using online campaigns. Members of Ochanya’s family also reported threats to their lives and appealed to the federal authorities, the police leadership and rights groups to protect them as they continued their search for justice.
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