Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has voiced concern over the case of Ochanya Elizabeth Ogbanje, the 13-year-old schoolgirl who died in 2018 after allegedly enduring years of sexual abuse.

In a post shared on her Instagram, the senator said she was devastated to learn that the accused individuals in the case had been discharged and acquitted. She urged the family of the late Ochanya to submit a formal petition to her office at the National Assembly to help seek justice.

“Years ago, the heart-wrenching story of little Ochanya devastated me. I thought the perpetrators were in jail. Alas, they were discharged and acquitted,” she wrote. “The family of late Ochanya Ogbanje should write a petition to me: Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Room 2:05 Senate Wing, National Assembly Complex, Abuja. For our children, I stand for justice for Ochanya,” she said.

Ochanya’s case remains one of the most talked-about cases of child sexual abuse in Nigeria. The young girl reportedly lived with Andrew Ogbuja, a lecturer at Benue State Polytechnic, and his wife Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, while attending school. According to reports and a video she recorded before her death, Ochanya was allegedly sexually assaulted for five years by Mr Ogbuja and his son, Victor Ogbuja.

In October 2018, she died from complications linked to Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF), a severe medical condition that causes continuous leakage of urine, often resulting from sexual violence or prolonged childbirth. Her death sparked nationwide outrage and the social media campaign #JusticeForOchanya, calling for accountability and stronger protection for minors.

However, in April 2022, the Benue State High Court in Makurdi acquitted Mr Andrew Ogbuja of raping and causing the death of Ochanya. On the same day, a Federal High Court in Makurdi convicted his wife, Mrs Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, for negligence that exposed the child to abuse. She was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment without the option of a fine for failing to protect Ochanya.

The acquittal of Mr Ogbuja reignited anger and disappointment among Nigerians, many of whom have taken to social media this week to revive the #JusticeForOchanya campaign.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s statement has added a new voice to the growing demand for renewed legal attention to the case. The senator, known for her advocacy on women and children’s rights, said she remains committed to ensuring that vulnerable children are protected from abuse and that justice is served.

Public reactions to her post have been largely supportive, with many Nigerians praising her for speaking up and urging other lawmakers to take similar action.

The senator’s call for a formal petition could open a new chapter in the fight for justice for Ochanya, whose story continues to symbolise the struggles faced by many young girls in Nigeria.

As conversations around the case trend again, activists say it offers another reminder of the need for stronger child protection systems, stricter penalties for sexual offenders, and more awareness about conditions like VVF that result from such abuse.