Andrew Ogbuja, a lecturer with the Benue State Polytechnic who was arraigned allegedly for rape and murder of a 13-year-old school girl, Miss Elizabeth Ogbanje, is to open his defence in court on October 8.
He was arraigned before a Benue State High Court sitting in Makurdi by the state government on a four-count charge bordering on rape and murder on October 10, 2019.
The trial Judge, Justice Augustine Ityonyiman adjourned the case to October 8 for the defendant to open his defence after state government closed its case with the evidence of the eighth Prosecution witness, PW-8.
The witness who identified himself as Bulus told the court that he is a photojournalist and was led by the Director of Public Prosecution in the State, Peter Ukande.
Earlier, a video recording was played before the court, where the late Ochanya had said the lecturer, Ogbuja and his fugitive son, Victor, serially raped her until she fell ill and was admitted at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, in Makurdi for two months.
“My aunty’s (Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja) son started sleeping with me and after that, his father, (Andrew Ogbuja), started sleeping with me too. I was sick and admitted at the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi for two months,” the late Ochanya had revealed in the video that was played before the Court.
Under cross examination, the journalist told the Court that he interviewed the deceased teenager at the premises of the Court in August 2018 when Ogbuja was first arraigned at Upper Area Court in Makurdi.
However, counsel to the accused, Abel Onoja, objected to the admissibility of the video clip, arguing that he was not properly served with a copy of the video recording.
Following an appeal by the trial judge to both lawyers in the suit for an accelerated hearing, the defendant’s counsel withdrew his objection, paving the way for the judge to admit the piece of evidence.
“The video cassette tendered is hereby admitted as Exhibit F,” Justice Ityonyiman said.
The lead Prosecution counsel, Peter Ukande , thereafter announced the decision of the State to close its case at that point after calling a total of eight witnesses comprising medical experts, family members of the deceased teenager and police officers who investigated the case.
Ogbuja’s son, Victor, who is now at large, is second defendant in the case but the police are yet to arrest him and had not declared him wanted.
Upon a request by Ogbuja’s counsel for a date to open his defence, the trial judge, ustice Ityonyiman adjourned the case to October 8, 2021, for the defendant to commence his defence.
Ochanya died on October 17, 2018 from alleged complications allegedly occasioned by her prolonged rape by Ogbuja and his son.
