The family of the late Ochanya Ogbanje, a teenager who died of rape-related ailments, and members of civil society organizations have called on the Benue state government to appeal the sentence that acquitted the main suspect charged in her case. .
Makurdi High Court Judge Augustine Ityonyiman last Thursday discharged and acquitted Andrew Ogbuja, a professor at Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, of rape which allegedly led to the death of Miss Ogbanje in 2018.
But another Makurdi Federal High Court judge, Mobolaji Olajunwo, sentenced Mr. Ogbuja’s wife, Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, on the same day for negligent sexual assault of the minor.
Until her death, Ochanya was a JSS1 student at the Gboko Federal Government Girls’ College in Benue State.
Application for private lawyers to appeal court ruling
In a request to challenge the acquittal of Mr. Ogbuja, members of the deceased teenager’s family, the Federal Government Girls’ College Alumni Association, Gboko, Benue State and the group Men Against Rape, at a press conference in Abuja , urged the state government not to allow the “90-day window” to elapse before appealing against the acquittal verdict.
Speaking at the conference, Ms Ogbanje’s older brother, John Ameh, appealed to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to order a team of private lawyers to file an appeal with a view to overturning the Court’s decision. Superior of Makurdi.
While commending Mr. Ortom for resisting political pressure during Mr. Ogbuja’s trial, Mr. Ameh said “Judge Ityonyiman’s ruling remains a dark day for anti-sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) activists in Nigeria” until revoked.
“The ruling of the Makurdi High Court must never be upheld.
“Governor Ortom must see through this legal battle to the end. We urge you to grant fiat (permission) to a reputable private attorney to begin the process of filing an appeal to challenge Mr. Ogbuja’s acquittal.
“We call on the governor not to let the 90-day appeal period expire, as ‘history has him in its sights.’”
Also speaking at the event, the president of the FGGC Gboko alumni association in Abuja, Ngozi Azodoh, called on the Benue state government to appeal the Makurdi High Court ruling that acquitted Mr. Ogbuja.
Ms. Azodoh, a medical doctor, praised Ortom for his efforts to seek justice for Ochanya’s death, and urged him to do the same to push for an appeal against Ityonyiman’s verdict.
Similarly, Lemmy Ughegbe, founder of Men Against Rape, an advocacy group that champions the cause of justice for victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, criticized the Makurdi High Court ruling.
Mr. Ughegbe condemned the trial judge, Mr. Ityonyiman’s refusal to consider a video recording of the deceased teenager that was admitted as evidence in court, as well as the findings of the autopsy report of the Nigeria Police Forensic Laboratory in Lagos.
The human rights activist advised the Governor of Benue State to undertake the task of granting permission to a private lawyer to challenge the High Court’s decision on Mr. Ogbuja’s acquittal.
background
The late Miss Ogbanje, who died aged 13 in October 2018, suffered years of sexual assault and sexual abuse while living under the guardianship of Mr Ogbuja and his wife, Ochanya’s mother’s cousin, Rose Abah.
Ochnaya was diagnosed with vesicovaginal fistula, VVF, infection among other illnesses, as a result of years of sexual abuse and torture while living with the Ogbujas.
Before his death, he spoke about years of torture and sexual abuse in court, where he pointed an accusing finger at Mr. Ogbuja and his runaway son, Victor.
Although Ogbuja was released last Thursday, April 28, his wife, Felicia, in a separate trial, was found guilty and sentenced to five months in prison “for failing to fulfill her duty to protect” the deceased teenager.
Her son, Victor, remains in hiding nearly four years after news of Miss Ogbanje’s rape broke.