Ochanya: NGOs Express Concerns Over Slow Pace Of Trial
…Stress need for special court
As Men Against Rape Foundation (MARF) and its parent organisation, Make A Difference (MAD) Initiative mark the third year memorial of Ochanya Elizabeth Ogbanje today, the two organisations have decried the slow pace of the on-going trial of Andrew Ogbuja for sexually abusing her for 5 years until her death on October 17, 2018.
This is as the Non-Governmental Organisations queried what they described as “the lack of commitment” of the police to apprehend Victor Ogbuja and bring him to justice three years since he was found culpable and recommended by the Benue State Ministry of Justice for trial.
Ochanya died three years ago following health complications as a result of being serially raped and sodomised from when she was eight years old by Andrew and his son, Victor Ogbuja.
In a statement signed by the Executive Director of MARF and MAD, Lemmy Ughegbe, the organisations noted that “the snail pace of Ogbuja’s trial underscores the increasing need for special courts to be designated for cases bordering on sexual violence and sundry cases of Gender Based Violence in Nigeria.”
The two organisations said; “The need for special courts becomes even more urgent when we take note that even government has acknowledged sexual violence as a social pandemic within the country with the attendant psychosocial consequences it poses to victims, survivors, their families and society at large.”
“A speedy dispensation of justice will go a long way in sending the right signal to pedophiles, rapists and all other sex predators that the arm of the law will catch up with them without delay and put them out of circulation ànd away from the society.
“It is such deterrents that can help discourage sex predators from their heinous and bestial acts, restore sanity to society and create safe spaces for children and women”, the organisations added.
The duo however, expressed optimism that justice will be served on Ochanya’s rapists eventually, adding that “the fact that the trial court admitted a video evidence, wherein Ochanya narrated how Andrew and Victor Ogbuja took turns to violate her for five years was a major boost for prosecution to prove its case”.
The Non-Government Organisations noted that “whilst Andrew has been cooling his heels in Makurdi correctional facility in nearly three years from where he attends his trial, his son and co-conspirator, Victor has been at large”.
According to them: “The police have regrettably been comfortable with allowing someone who poses imminent and immediate danger to the society and especially children to mingle with the society.
“It beats us hollow to note that the police seems sympathetic to a pedophile. Despite his running from justice, the police has refused to declare Victor wanted and published his photo to that effect. This is troubling as our kids are not safe in so far as he remains free.”
The organisations said they will take extraordinary steps to apprehend Victor and bring him to justice.
