Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan calls for renewed justice in Ochanya Ogbanje case
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has expressed deep concern over the case of 13-year-old Ochanya Elizabeth Ogbanje, who died in 2018 after allegedly enduring years of sexual abuse.
In an Instagram post, the senator said she was “devastated” to learn that the main suspects in the case had been discharged and acquitted. She urged Ochanya’s family to formally petition her office at the National Assembly to help revive the pursuit of justice.
“Years ago, the heartbreaking story of little Ochanya devastated me. I believed her abusers were behind bars — alas, they were discharged and acquitted,” she wrote. “The family of late Ochanya Ogbanje should write a petition to me: Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Room 2:05 Senate Wing, National Assembly Complex, Abuja. For our children, I stand for justice for Ochanya.”
Ochanya’s case remains one of Nigeria’s most widely discussed child abuse tragedies. The young girl reportedly lived with Andrew Ogbuja, a lecturer at Benue State Polytechnic, and his wife, Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, while attending school. According to her recorded testimony before her death, she was allegedly assaulted repeatedly over five years by Ogbuja and his son, Victor.
In October 2018, Ochanya died from complications linked to Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF), a severe condition often caused by sexual violence. Her death sparked nationwide outrage and the viral #JusticeForOchanya campaign demanding accountability and stronger child protection.
In April 2022, the Benue State High Court in Makurdi acquitted Andrew Ogbuja of rape and culpability in Ochanya’s death, while a Federal High Court convicted his wife for negligence and sentenced her to five months in prison. The acquittal reignited public anger and renewed calls for justice.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s intervention has added fresh momentum to the campaign, with many Nigerians commending her for taking a stand. Known for her advocacy on women’s and children’s rights, she reaffirmed her commitment to protecting vulnerable children and ensuring justice for victims of abuse.
As #JusticeForOchanya trends once again, activists are using the moment to push for tougher penalties for sexual offenders, stronger child protection laws, and greater public awareness about the devastating effects of sexual violence.
