iDeemlawfulThe Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has convicted and sentenced a 400-level undergraduate student of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Damian Okoligwe, to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Justina Otuene.
Okoligwe was found guilty of killing Otuene on October 20, 2023, at his residence in Mgbuoba, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area. After committing the act, he dismembered her remains and hid them in a wheelbarrow, allegedly attempting to dispose of the body before being arrested.
The case, which generated widespread public anger, has been described by prosecutors as one of the state’s most disturbing criminal incidents involving a student.
Presiding over the matter on Friday, Justice Chinwe Nsirim-Nwosu ruled that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt the three critical elements required to establish a murder charge against Okoligwe.
The judge characterized Okoligwe’s conduct as deliberate, calm, premeditated, coordinated, and malicious, noting that the evidence presented was consistent and confirmed that he committed the offence.
He ordered that Okoligwe be executed by hanging.
Reacting to the ruling, the prosecution counsel, Charles Mbaba, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating that it would bring peace to the soul of the late Otuene.
According to him, the judgment should deter young people who may be tempted to pursue unlawful and hasty routes to success.
He said: “Justice has been done and is seen and felt to be done in respect of Justina Otuene. Justina was the only daughter of her parents but was gruesomely murdered by Damian Okoligwe in circumstances suggestive of ritual intentions.
“Today, the court has pronounced him guilty of the murder of Justina Otuene. We hope and believe that with this judgment, the soul of Justina can now have a peaceful repose. I also believe that this judgment will serve as a deterrent to youths who believe shortcuts in life are the only means to get rich quick.”
Also speaking, the deceased’s elder brother, Osatawaji Otuene, said his family found relief in the decision, describing it as a source of solace after their painful loss.
There has been a troubling rise in domestic violence in Nigeria, particularly among intimate partners, a development often linked to increasing mental health challenges in the country.
