Ochanya: Court adjourns case due to absence of magistrate

The Chief Magistrate Court Two sitting in Makurdi, presided by
Issac Ajim, on Thursday, adjourned to December 14, the case
regarding the late miss Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje who was allegedly
raped to death by his guardian, Andrew Ogbuja and his son,
Victor.

The matter came up on for mentioning but was later
adjourned.

The presiding magistrate, Isaac Agim, was said to have gone for
a national conference of lawyers in Abuja.

However, concerned Nigerians and various civil society groups
who thronged the court premises to witness the court proceedings
expressed their disappointment that the case could not hold but
shifted to another date.

Addressing journalists at the court premises, the state Attorney
General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Mike Gusa, said the
adjournment was not deliberate, assuring that the case would be
given due attention in the next adjournment date.

Gusa assured the readiness of the judiciary to ensure that
justice was given to Ochanya, saying that the state government
would leave no stone unturned until justice prevailed to serve as a
deterrent to others.

“If the case was heard today, the state government would have
taken position because Governor Samuel Ortom is so passionate about
the issue and has directed that justice be delivered as soon as
possible as his administration would not promote any evil,” Gusa
stated.

The elder brother to late Ochanya, Mr John Ameh while speaking
with newsmen at the court premises, blamed the police for their
inability to arrest the son of Victor Ogbuja who had been at
large.

He called on the security agencies, particularly the Nigerian
police to do the needful and live up to their responsibility and
arrest him as he cannot continue to enjoy freedom after he connived
with his father and raped the late Ochanya.

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