𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝’𝐬 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has sentenced Damian Okoligwe, a 26-year-old 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student at the University of Port Harcourt, to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Justina Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry student.

Justice Chiwen Nsirim Nwosu delivered the judgment on Friday, ruling that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Okoligwe was responsible for Justina’s death in October 2023 at his residence. The court found that the act directly led to her demise.

Okoligwe was arrested after neighbours reported a foul odour coming from his room, prompting officers from Ozuoba Police Division to investigate. They discovered Justina’s dismembered body in a bag, which she was allegedly killed for ritual purposes. The trial began in May 2024 after the Rivers State Government took over the case, following its initial handling by a Magistrate Court.

Prosecuting counsel, Charles Obediah-Mbaba, praised the judgment, saying, “Justice has been done and felt in the gruesome murder of Justina Otuene. We hope this verdict allows her soul to rest in peace and serves as a lesson to youths seeking shortcuts to wealth through crime.”

Speaking on behalf of the family, Justina’s elder brother, Osat-Awaji Otuene, described the judgment as fair and thorough, adding, “It’s a relief to know that my sister did not die in vain. The verdict brings comfort to our family.”

The defence team has declined to comment on the outcome.