A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced a 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student of the University of Port Harcourt, Damian Okoligwe, to death by hanging for murdering his girlfriend, Justina Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry student.
Okoligwe, 26, was convicted and sentenced on Friday for killing Miss Justina in October 2023 at his apartment on that fateful day.
Justice Chiwe Nsirim-Nwosu ruled that the prosecution, led by Charles Obediah-Mbaba, proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, establishing that Justina’s death was the direct result of Okoligwe’s actions.
Okoligwe was arrested in 2023 after neighbours raised the alarm while he attempted to dispose of Justina’s body leading to his arrest by officers from the Ozuoba Police Division who forced the convict’s door open and found a Ghana-must-go bag containing the victim’s dismembered remains.
His murder trial subsequently began in May 2024, two months after the Rivers State Government took over the case which was initially before a Magistrate Court.
In November 2023, Chief Magistrate Nnenda Obiageri Onugbum referred the matter to the Department of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
Okoligwe, had in 2023, denied the claims against him, insisting that he was ill when Justina visited him at home and only woke up the next day to find her dead.
He also denied mutilating the remains of his late girlfriend, insisting that her body was intact when he left the house.
Speaking with journalists after the verdict, the prosecuting counsel Obediah Charles-Mbaba commended the court, saying that justice had been done, seen, and felt in the case of Justina Otuene.
He said:“Justina was the only daughter of her parents, but was gruesomely murdered by Damian Okoligwe in circumstances suggestive of ritual intention. Today the court has pronounced him guilty of the murder of Justina Otuene.
“We only hope and believe that with this judgement, the souls of Justina can now have a peaceful repose.”
The prosecuting counsel added that the judgment would serve as a deterrent to others contemplating similar behavior.
He stated:“I also believe that this judgement will serve as a deterrent to youths who believe that short cut in life is the only means to get rich as quickly as possible.
“This judgement will be a pointer and a lesson to the youths to work hard and abide by the laws of the land.”
The elder brother of the late Justina, Osat-Awaji Otuene, said the judgment was well-deserved and brings some comfort to the family.
He added:“I feel good, I feel calm about the whole situation. It was a very detailed judgement, very well structured. I really want to commend the judge, Justice Nsirim.
“Everything was well coordinated in court today. So, I’m really glad that we had the correct and the right judgement for the case.
“It is a relief, and it’s certain that my sister didn’t just die for nothing. So, the judgement has been given and the judgement was deserved. Of course it is a relief to the family.”
