November 27, 2025
By Ayinde Adeleke
The call for justice over the death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje gained renewed attention on Tuesday as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Audu urged the Senate to open a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the case.
Raising the matter during plenary as an urgent national issue, Senator Natasha said the Senate must not overlook the concerns surrounding the teenager’s death, which has sparked public outcry and renewed debates about child protection failures in the country. She stressed that the case deserves a transparent, well-coordinated probe that examines the roles of all individuals and institutions involved.
According to the lawmaker, the Senate should mandate relevant committees to collaborate with law enforcement agencies, social welfare offices, and child rights organisations to gather comprehensive findings. Senator Natasha argued that understanding exactly what happened to the young girl is essential not only for accountability but also for strengthening national mechanisms that safeguard minors.
She noted that Ochanya’s case reflects wider challenges facing vulnerable children and urged the Senate to treat the matter with urgency, insisting that justice must be both thorough and timely.
The Senate is expected to review the motion and consider the appropriate investigative steps in the days ahead, as public interest continues to build around the case.
