Teenager’s rape: Victim’s family cries foul over suspect’s bail

The family of a serially-raped teenager in Benue State on Sunday raised alarm on suspicion of clandestine bail granted an accused, Andrew Ogbuja, who was remanded in prison custody by an Upper Area Court in Makurdi for allegedly raping the 13-year-old girl under his guardianship.

Ogbuja, a senior lecturer at the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, was remanded in prison custody on August 13, 2018 after the court heard that the accused started the sexual molestation of the teenager when she was eight years old, a situation which had left her with a health condition known as Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF).

According to the family, at the resumed sitting on the matter about three weeks ago in Makurdi, the absence of the trial Magistrate, S. D. Kwen, due to ill-health compelled the court to adjourn to November 5, 2018.

But, the victim’s parent worried over their daughter’s safety following the shady circumstances under which the alleged defendant (Mr. Ogbuja) was released from prison which they say did not follow due legal process.

“The circumstances under which Mr. Ogbuja was released from prison remain unclear, and as a result we are under serious apprehension on the safety of our daughter who is currently receiving VVF treatment at an undisclosed hospital,” a family source alleged.

The family added that due to the influence of the accused in the community, the life of the victim is in “dire danger,” as they called on the Benue State Commissioner of Police and the State Comptroller of Prisons, Makurdi, to launch an enquiry into the circumstances that led to the release of the accused from custody.

Daily Trust reports that at the initial sitting of the court in Makurdi on August 13, this year, the accused had admitted that the victim had lived with him since the age of five, but told the court that he was being framed on the charges.