Seven years after the death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje, who died from complications resulting from years of sexual abuse by her guardian, the hashtag #JusticeForOchanya has resurfaced across social media platforms, reigniting calls for justice.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Friday from 14:16, October 31, 2025, the elder brother of the late Ochanya, John Ameh, who is also a journalist, recounted the painful journey of the family in their quest for justice.
When asked to describe the trial process and highlight discrepancies in the prosecution, Ameh said: “The process that led to the arrest and eventual prosecution of Andrew Ogbuja and his wife, Felicia Ogbuja, was a very difficult one. If we go back to when Ochanya died on 17th of October, 2018, it became clear that we were in for a long haul.”
He explained that the case began after the family reported to the police that Ochanya had been “serially raped by Mr. Ogbuja and his son, Victor Ogbuja, who was then an undergraduate at the Federal University of Agriculture in Makurdi.” According to him, “After the initial arrest of Mr. Ogbuja, his son went underground. And then we asked the police to find him and make him account for what has happened to Ochanya. But the police never did that.”
Ameh revealed that Ochanya died in October 2018 before the next court adjournment, despite the first arraignment of Mr. Ogbuja in August of that year: “Now, with Ochanya’s passing, the police began a fresh investigation into the matter. And then Ochanya’s remains were conveyed to Makurdi, where an autopsy was conducted on her at the Federal Medical Center,” he said.
He added that after the first autopsy, there was a demand for a second medical opinion: “Then there was a need for a second opinion of the autopsy. And then medical experts came to take her samples, which was conducted at the police laboratory center in Lagos, the forensic center belonging to the police. So, obviously, there are two medical reports here now, talking about autopsy reports here regarding the case.” View, More,
Explore More News By Using The Button.