The Benue State High Court sitting in Makurdi on Thursday slated October 8, 2021 for a suspected rapist, Mr Andrew Ogbuja, to open his defence in the charge the state government entered against him.

The Benue State Government had on October 10, 2019, dragged 57-year-old Ogbuja, a lecturer with the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, before a Makurdi High Court on four counts bordering on the rape and murder of a 13-year-old schoolgirl, Miss Elizabeth Ogbanje.

The trial Judge, Justice Augustine Ityonyiman, adjourned the case till October 8 for the defendant to open his defence after the state government closed its case with the evidence of the eighth prosecution witness.

The witness, who identified himself as Bulus, told the court that he was a photojournalist and was led by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the state, Peter Ukande.

A video clip was played before the court where the late Ochanya said Mr Ogbuja and his fugitive son, Victor, serially raped her until she fell ill and was admitted to the Federal Medical Centre 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 to the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi for two months,” Ochanya revealed in the video.

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While being crossed examined, the journalist informed the court that he interviewed the deceased teenager on the premises of the court in August 2018 when Mr Ogbuja was first arraigned at the Upper Area Court in Makurdi.

However, counsel for the accused, Abel Onoja, objected to the admissibility of the clip, arguing that he was not properly served with a copy of the video recording.

But upon an appeal by the trial judge to both lawyers in the suit for accelerated hearing, the defendant’s counsel withdrew his objection.

The lead prosecution counsel, Peter Ukande, thereafter announced the state’s decision to close its case calling eight witnesses.

Ogbuja’s son, Victor, who is still at large, is the second suspect in the matter. The police have yet to arrest or declare him wanted.