Ochanya’s Father Speaks On His Late Daughter

Michael Ogbanje, father to ochanya has disclosed how he found that his teenage daughter had been repeatedly raped by her uncle.

Recall that 13-year old ochanya, seeking for education died of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) in October after series of rape allegedly perpetrated by her uncle Andrew Ogbuja Ogbuja and his son, Victor.

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However, Mr. Ogbanje recounting his last moments with Ochanya in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES disclosed he only got a clear understanding of his daughter’s health situation after he decided to take her to a caregiver who took her to a hospital where they ran several tests on her.

“We started the treatment at a local government clinic. From there, we were referred to Saint Mary’s hospital. In February, Mr Ogbuja’s wife, Felicia Ogbuja, came to me and told me that my daughter’s case had gone beyond what will be treated at Saint Mary’s.

“I gave them money, N16, 000 and fuelled their car which was used in taking my daughter to the hospital that day. They were admitted till April. The entire hospital bills were paid by me. Yet Mrs Ogbuja made sure to keep the test results from us.

“We have been the ones paying her school fees. We even buy things and take to her occasionally,” Mr Ogbanje added.

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Ochanyan’s mother, Rose ogbanje also revealed that her daughter’s medical condition was still unclear to her as the aunt, Felicia Ogbuja, allegedly hid results of eleven tests carried out on the girl from Mr Ogbanje.

“Each time I ask, they will tell me that my daughter will be well. Even when they discharged her, my daughter could not walk. When I enquired to know why she could not walk since they said she was better, they told me she would soon walk again,”

However when Mr Ogbanje noticed that his daughters situation had gone out of control as she was passing out faeces and urinating uncontrollably, he asked his wife to question ochanya.

“It was during that interrogation by her mother that my daughter confessed that she was sexually abused by Mr Ogbuja and his son.

“I was surprised when she told me who had raped her. I asked her, “are you mad?” but she insisted that she was telling the truth.

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“I called her elder one and asked her to repeat what she had told me and she did so. Then the following day I took her, very early to Mr Ogbujah and asked that she narrates the story she had told us.”

In a quest to prove he self right after Mr Ogbuja denied assaulting her the ochanya further revealed the several scenarios where she was allegedly assaulted by the 51-year-old suspended lecturer and knight of the Catholic Church.

“But he insisted that only his son had an intimate meeting with my daughter. I then asked him what would happen next, given the state that my poor daughter was in and his wife told me that we should come back the following week so that they would go with us to the hospital and check to know if it is the incidence of rape that resulted in the problem my child is having.

“This happened on a Monday. But I thought to myself that I could not watch my daughter for another week without knowing how to help her. That was when I took Ochanya to the caregiver, Enuwa Soo, who went with my wife to run some tests at a hospital and all the results came out. That was the first time we knew what was really wrong with my daughter,” Mr Ogbanje said. “This was in June,” he added.

Mr Ogbanje further narrated that Mr Ogbuja later came with his wife, kneeling and begging them to avoid reporting the matter to relevant authorities.

“The first time he came, he was in the company of his wife and some men. They brought some kolanuts and knelt down, saying I should understand that the deed is already done. They offered to continue treating my daughter and refund the money I had spent on her treatment in exchange for my silence, but I refused,” Mr Ogbanje said.

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Mrs Ogbuja was reportedly the first to discover the heinous crime perpetrated then, by her son, Victor. Rather than ensure it did not repeat itself, the Ogbuja’s family watched the menace continue till it caused the13-year-old her dear life, Mr Ogbanje said.

However Mrs Ogbanje with a broken heart called on the government to deliver justice over her daughter’s death case.

“Ochanya was a peaceful child who loved school; she was equally intelligent and did well in school before death took her away from us,” says her mother.

“Since Ochanya died and was buried here [pointing at her grave], I have never come to see her grave [breaks down in tears]. I am deeply hurt by her death. Since my daughter, Ochanya, died, I don’t sleep; I don’t feel hungry.

“The government should have mercy on us and deliver judgement on this case involving Andrew Ogbuja. They should also get his wife and son.”

Meanwhile Mr Ogbuja has been arrested and detained by the police, but Victor has been on the run months after the matter was reported to the police.

The Catholic Church, in a statement issued in November by members of the Knight of Saint Molumba, however suspended Mr Ogbuja from the order of Catholic Knights, pending the outcome of the matter.

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