A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt yesterday convicted and sentenced a 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Damian Okoligwe, to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Justina Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry student of the same institution.
Okoligwe, now 26, was found guilty of killing Justina in October 2023 at his residence.
Landmark Judgment
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Chiwen Nsirim Nwosu held that the prosecution, led by Charles Obediah-Mbaba, proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and established that Okoligwe committed the crime. The court further ruled that Justina’s death resulted directly from his actions.
Okoligwe was arrested in 2023 after neighbors raised the alarm over his attempt to dispose of Justina’s body, which he allegedly killed for money ritual purposes. Responding officers forced the door open to his room and discovered a Ghana-must-go bag containing Justina Otuene’s dismembered body.
The murder trial commenced in May 2024, two months after the Rivers State Government took over the case.
Prosecutor and Family React
Speaking after the judgment, prosecuting counsel Obediah Charles Mbaba praised the court for ensuring justice, and expressed hope that the verdict would serve as a deterrent to youth seeking “short cuts” to wealth.
“Justice has not only been done, but seen and felt to be done, in respect to the gruesome murder of Justina Otuene. Justina was the only daughter of her parents, but was gruesomely murdered by Damian Okoligwe in circumstances suggestive of ritual intention,” he said.
He added that he believes the judgment “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.”
Osat-Awaji Otuene, the elder brother of the late Justina, expressed relief and commended the court for a well-structured and detailed judgment.
“It’s 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,” he said.
Source: Punch Online
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