The Senate has revived the pursuit of justice in the case of late Ochanya Ogbanje, the 13-year-old whose death in 2018 sparked national outrage over alleged prolonged sexual abuse and systemic failure in child protection.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, on Wednesday , November 26, presented a fresh petition before the Senate on behalf of the Ogbanje family. The lawmaker said the renewed appeal was necessary to correct what many Nigerians believe was a mishandled and unjustly delayed case.
Ochanya, a student of the Federal Government Girls’ College, Gboko, allegedly endured years of abuse before her eventual death from complications linked to continuous assault. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan told the Senate that the deceased “suffered severe violations for years, yet justice continues to be delayed and denied.”
She accused some individuals of attempting to “shield those responsible from accountability,” noting that the petition demands the arrest and prosecution of Andrew Ogbuja and his son, Victor, who are accused of repeatedly assaulting Ochanya from age six to 13.
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According to the petition, Ochanya had been sent to live with her maternal aunt, Felicia Ogbuja, at age five to access better education. However, the aunt’s husband, Andrew, and his son allegedly subjected her to ongoing abuse, which reportedly led to severe medical conditions, including vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) and fecal urinary incontinence.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan described the case as “a heartbreaking example of the system’s failure to protect a vulnerable child,” emphasizing the need for urgent legislative intervention.
The Senate’s renewed attention offers fresh hope to the Ogbanje family and child-rights advocates, who have spent years calling for accountability. Many Nigerians now look to the National Assembly for decisive action that may finally pave the way for justice for Ochanya.