13 year old pupil allegedly defiled by lecturer and his son dies; family demands justice

Elizabeth Ogbanje, a 13-year-old pupil allegedly raped by a lecturer at the Department of Catering and Hotel Management, Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, and his son, has died from health complications at the Otukpo General Hospital, Punch reports.

According to the report, the teenager, who is a J.S.S 1 student died last week – her father has since demanded justice for her as he urged the police and the judiciary to ensure that the lecturer, Andrew Ogbuja and his son, Victor are brought to book.

Speaking to Punch, he said in quote,

“My daughter died on Wednesday at the Otukpo General Hospital. Her corpse has been brought to Makurdi for autopsy. We are awaiting the autopsy report. She was admitted to the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi in February 2018 when she could not walk due to anal-related infections. She was bedridden for two months at the hospital. They ran a test on her and it was discovered that she had been sexually abused.

“The lecturer was remanded but we did not know how he left the prison. The police prosecutor said he was not aware of the bail. At the last adjournment, September 24, 2018 when we wanted to inform the court about the development, it did not sit. His son is still at large, but the police said they were making efforts to arrest him.

“What the family wants is justice. We are calling on the Commissioner of Police in the state, the state government and well-meaning Nigerians to do everything within their powers to bring perpetrators of this despicable act to justice That is the only way we can bring closure to the case and give the late Elizabeth her well-deserved rest. We have reported her death to the police.”

Her school’s alumni, like the rest of Nigeria, are rightly hungry for justice, leading to #JusticeForOchanya across social media pages.

https://twitter.com/officialdaddymo/status/1055375515891179520

The perpetrators of this heinous crime MUST be brought to justice.

We must say NO to Rape and Rape Culture.

We must bring these monsters to justice.#JusticeforOchanya pic.twitter.com/MkNyNqMFou

— Ayò-Bánkólé Akíntújoyè (@AyoBankole) October 25, 2018

https://twitter.com/Kelvin_Odanz/status/1055409222890983424

In Lagos, we demand #JusticeforOchanya as we walk tomorrow from NUJ House Alausa, Ikeja at 7am. Join us as we take a #StandtoEndRape.

More details about this will be communicated shortly. cc: @bettyabah.

Please retweet!

— S.T.E.R Initiative (@StandtoEndRape) October 25, 2018

We all need to lend our voice to get#JusticeForOchanya. This wicked act must not go unpunished. How do u rape a minor to the point of death and you call yourself a human being. No ur a monster! The People that should protect her are the same people that turned on her! pic.twitter.com/tesU9Ubrtp

— Mr. Yummy (@Chuksunruly) October 25, 2018