The Federal High Court in Makurdi, on Thursday, dismissed the no-case-submission of Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja over the rape and death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje by the defendant’s husband and son, Andrew Ogbuja and Victor Ogbuja, respectively.
Little Ochanya died on October 17, 2018, due to complications arising from the alleged sexual molestation she suffered at the hands of Ogbuja and son.
Ogbuja is a senior lecturer at the Department of Catering and Hotel Management, Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo while his son, Victor, who is now at large, was a final year student at the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi.
Felicia Ogbuja, 43, was arraigned by the Federal Government through its agency, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), on a two-count charge.
While ruling on Felicia ‘s no-case-submission on Thursday, the trial judge, Justice M. O. Olajunwo, held that the prosecution had put together substantial evidence to warrant the defendant to enter her defence.
Subsequently, the court adjourned the suit till July 27, 2020, for Felicia to open her defence.
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It would be recalled that the prosecution counsel, Ja’afaru Ayitogo, called six witnesses, amongst which was Babarinde Ojo, a consultant pathologist in the Department of Histopathology, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.
While Ogbuja has been remanded at the Makurdi prison (where his wife was also remanded), Victor is reportedly still at large. Although he has not been officially declared wanted by the police or any security agency or the court.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
