A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced 26-year-old Damian Okoligwe, a 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student of the University of Port Harcourt, to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Justina Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry student.
Justice Chiwen Nsirim Nwosu delivered the verdict on Friday, ruling that the prosecution successfully proved beyond reasonable doubt that Okoligwe killed Justina in October 2023 at his Ozuoba residence.
Okoligwe was arrested after neighbours alerted police to a foul odour coming from his room. Officers from the Ozuoba Police Division forced their way in and found Justina’s dismembered remains stuffed inside a Ghana-must-go bag. He was subsequently taken into custody, with investigators alleging the crime was linked to ritual motives.
The trial began in May 2024 after the Rivers State Government assumed prosecution. The matter had earlier been handled at a Magistrate Court before being transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution for legal advice in late 2023.
During initial police questioning, Okoligwe denied killing Justina, claiming he was ill when she visited and found her dead after waking up. He admitted leaving his home for days and returning to dispose of her body but denied mutilating her or engaging in any ritual activity.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nwosu held that the evidence presented in court overwhelmingly contradicted Okoligwe’s claims and established his guilt.
Speaking after the ruling, prosecuting counsel Charles Obediah-Mbaba commended the judgment, describing it as justice “seen and felt.”
“Justina was the only daughter of her parents and was gruesomely murdered under circumstances pointing to ritual intentions,” he said. “This judgment will serve as a deterrent to youths who believe shortcuts are a way to wealth.”
Osat-Awaji Otuene, elder brother of the deceased, said the ruling brought relief to the grieving family.
“It was a very detailed and well-structured judgement,” he said. “We are glad that justice was served. It’s a relief knowing my sister didn’t die for nothing.”
The defence team declined to comment on the verdict.
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