Ochanya: Senior lecturer arraigned over rape, death of teenager

The Benue state government has arraigned Andrew Ogbuja, a senior lecturer at the Benue State Polytechnic, over the death of a teenager.

Ogbuja and Victor, his son, were alleged to have been raping Ochanya Ogbanje, a 13-year-old, since she was at the age of seven.

Medical examination showed that Ochanya developed vesicovaginal fistula, a condition in which she was continuously dripping urine, leading to the damage of her bladder.

She died on October 17, 2018.

The lecturer pleaded “not guilty” to a four count charge, bordering on rape and murder levelled against him.

Victor is still at large.

The prosecution counsel prayed the court to remand the accused and fix a date for commencement of trial.

Abel Onoja, the defence lawyer, said he was not against the application for trial.

He, however, urged the court to make an order to compel the prosecution to ensure that the medical experts named in the suit were physically brought before the court to testify.

Responding, the prosecutor said it was “premature to come up with such a request, given the fact that the trial has not fully commenced.”

Augustine Ityonyiman, the trial judge, agreed with the prosecution and overruled the defendant’s application, saying “it is premature.”

The suit was adjourned till November 14, for the commencement of trial.