Court fixes Nov. 14 for trial of lecturer charged with Ochanya rape

A Benue State High Court in Makurdi has fixed November 14 for the trial of a senior lecturer at the Benue State Polytechnic in Ugbokolo, Andrew Ogbuja, charged with the rape that allegedly led to the death of 13-year-old Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje. Ogbuja, 54, was arraigned yesterday by the state government on a four count […]

A Benue State High Court in Makurdi has fixed November 14 for the trial of a senior lecturer at the Benue State Polytechnic in Ugbokolo, Andrew Ogbuja, charged with the rape that allegedly led to the death of 13-year-old Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje.

Ogbuja, 54, was arraigned yesterday by the state government on a four count charge bordering on rape and murder of the teenager. He pleaded not guilty.

He was alleged to have raped the teenager repeatedly alongside his son, Victor Ogbuja, said to be at large, within a period of five years that the deceased lived with them and as a result, she developed complications that led to her death on October 17, 2018.

Our correspondent recalled that Ochanya’s case was first reported to FIDA Nigeria, Benue branch in April, 2018. At that time, the deceased Ochanya was ill and was undergoing treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.

Sequel to a formal report by FIDA Benue, the suspected lecturer, Ogbuja fingered by the deceased teenager was arrested on an allegation of rape and arraigned before the Upper Area Court 1 in Makurdi while his son, co-accused in the matter, remained at large.

Ochanya later died while receiving treatment on October 17, 2018 and the accused Ogbuja earlier granted bail was rearrested and arraigned for the offence of culpable homicide.

The accused person had since remained in prison custody, from where he applied for bail before the Chief Magistrate Court 1, Makurdi but the application was refused.

The matter was later transferred to Otukpo in May, 2019 but brought back to Makurdi upon a fresh information filed by the office of the state’s Attorney General.

Findings also showed that the accused person applied for bail before the High Court in Otukpo but the application was refused on July 31.

Following his re-arraignment on Thursday before the high court in Makurdi, the prosecuting counsel, a Deputy Director, Public Prosecution of Benue State, P. M. Ukande, urged the court to remand the defendant and fix a date for trial.