The renewed hashtag #JusticeforOrchanya has again drawn attention to the slow and inconsistent handling of the case of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje, who died in 2018 after years of alleged sexual abuse, which is a disturbing failure of Nigeria’s justice system to protect vulnerable children.
Development Diaries reports that Ochanya was allegedly subjected to repeated sexual assaults by a lecturer at Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, Andrew Ogbuja, and his son, Victor.
However, in April 2022, the Benue State High Court acquitted the lecturer, citing a lack of sufficient evidence.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Makurdi sentenced Ochanya’s aunt, Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, to five months in prison without an option of a fine for negligence, having failed to protect the teenager from abuse.
Seven years after her death, one of the main suspects, Victor Ogbuja, remains at large.
This outcome raises serious concerns about the commitment of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to enforcing the Child Rights Act 2003, which guarantees every Nigerian child protection from abuse, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, which criminalises sexual assault and negligence leading to harm.
The fact that the alleged perpetrators have not all been brought to justice points to systemic weaknesses in investigation, prosecution, and witness protection.
According to Ochanya’s brother, he and other bereaved family members had received death threats for fighting for justice for Ochanya.
Despite repeated petitions by the victim’s family, the Nigeria Police Force has yet to apprehend Victor Ogbuja or provide adequate security for witnesses, contrary to its duty under Section 4 of the Police Act 2020, which mandates the police to protect lives and maintain public order.
The lack of police response further reveals an environment where victims and their families are left unprotected and discouraged from pursuing justice.
It is also troubling that the state institutions responsible for child protection, including the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the Benue State Ministry of Justice, have not demonstrated the urgency and coordination required to ensure full accountability.
Their silence and slow response undermine public confidence in the government’s resolve to protect children from sexual violence and hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of status or influence.
Also, the contrast between the swift justice often seen in high-profile cases and the neglect of cases involving ordinary citizens exposes a deep inequality in the justice system.
Nigeria cannot claim to value its children while allowing such impunity to persist.
The Inspector General of Police, the Minister of Women Affairs, the Benue State Ministry of Justice and the Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs must act decisively to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in Ochanya’s abuse and the protection of her family from further threats.
Justice delayed is justice denied , and until Ochanya’s case is fully resolved, Nigeria’s promise to protect its children remains unfulfilled.
Photo source: BBC
