Court Orders Hanging Of UNIPORT Student For Murder Of Girlfriend

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has handed down a death sentence to a University of Port Harcourt student, Damian Okoligwe, bringing a harrowing two-year murder case to a decisive close and offering a measure of closure to the grieving family of the victim.

Okoligwe, a 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student, was convicted for the killing of his girlfriend, 300-level Biochemistry undergraduate, Justina Otuene, on 20 October 2023 at his residence in Mgbuoba, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. Investigators said the young woman was murdered and dismembered before the suspect attempted to dispose of her remains using a wheelbarrow.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Chinwe Nsirim-Nwosu held that prosecutors had established the essential elements of murder beyond reasonable doubt. The court described Okoligwe’s actions as deliberate and chillingly methodical, noting that the evidence presented contained no contradictions capable of disturbing the prosecution’s case.

The judge ordered that the convict “be hanged by the neck until he is confirmed dead,” a pronouncement that drew visible emotion from the victim’s family.

Outside the courtroom, Justina’s elder brother, Osatawaji Otuene, said the ruling brought a long-awaited sense of relief. He commended the court for its painstaking approach, noting that the family could now take solace in the fact that their daughter’s life had not been cut short without consequence.

“It is a relief because at least it is certain that my sister didn’t die for nothing,” he said, describing the verdict as both detailed and thorough.

Prosecution counsel Charles Mbaba also expressed satisfaction, stating that the judgment had served justice and provided a clear message to young people lured by the illusion of quick wealth. Mbaba maintained that the brutality of the crime bore hallmarks of ritual motivation, underscoring the need for stronger societal vigilance.

“With this judgment, the soul of Justina can now have peaceful repose,” he said, stressing that the ruling should deter those seeking shortcuts to prosperity.