Natasha submits late Ochanya’s family petition to Senate

The Nigerian Senate has taken a significant step toward securing justice for the late Ochanya Ogbanje, a 13-year-old schoolgirl whose tragic death in 2018 sparked national outrage over allegations of prolonged sexual abuse.

During plenary on Wednesday, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) presented a petition filed by Inibehe Effiong Chambers on behalf of the Ogbanje family, urging urgent legislative intervention to reopen the stalled case.

The petition calls for the arrest and prosecution of the prime suspect, Victor Ogbuja, and urges the Benue State Government to challenge the acquittal of his father, Andrew Ogbuja.

Read also: Ochanya Ogbanje: Lessons Nigerian parents need to learn

Ochanya, who had lived with the Ogbuja family from age five, allegedly suffered repeated sexual abuse by both father and son, leading to severe health complications and her death on October 17, 2018.

The petition criticizes the Nigeria Police Force for failing to rearrest Victor Ogbuja after he absconded and highlights the state government’s refusal to appeal the High Court ruling that freed Andrew Ogbuja.

The Senate, noting the lack of ongoing legal proceedings, referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for review.

The committee is expected to investigate the circumstances of Ochanya’s abuse, death, and the apparent failure of justice, and may compel the state government to file the long-demanded appeal.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s advocacy has been widely hailed as a critical opportunity to address what many see as a grave miscarriage of justice.

The committee plans to invite all stakeholders, including law enforcement, state authorities, and the Ogbanje family, to provide evidence.

With the petition now formally before the Senate, Nigerians await whether legislative action will finally deliver long-awaited justice for Ochanya, whose death remains a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by children across the country.

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