A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has sentenced Damian Okoligwe, a 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), to death by hanging for murdering his girlfriend, Justina Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry student.
Okoligwe killed Otuene on October 20, 2023, at his apartment in Mgbuoba, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, and dismembered her body, attempting to dispose of it in a wheelbarrow. The court found him guilty, describing his actions as “intentional, composed, calculated, coordinated, and evil”.
The prosecution, led by Charles Mbaba, proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, and Justice Chinwe Nsirim-Nwosu ruled that Okoligwe should be hanged until death.
“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.” Charles Mbaba said after the court judgement.
The victim’s family also welcomed the judgement hoping it would bring solace and serve as a deterrent to others.
