Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced to death by hanging, a 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student of the University of Port Harcourt, Damian Okoligwe, convicted for the murder of his girlfriend, Justina Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry student of the same institution.
Okoligwe, who is now 26 years old, was found guilty of killing Justina in October 2023 at his residence.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Chiwen Nsirim Nwosu held that that Justina’s death resulted directly from the action of Okoligwe in October 2023, at his residence.Justice Nsirim Nwosu declared that the prosecution, led by Charles Obediah-Mbaba, proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and established that Okoligwe committed the said crime.
Recall that Damian Okoligwe was arrested in 2023 after neighbours raised the alarm when he attempted to dispose of Justina’s body, which he allegedly killed for money ritual purposes.
The arrest came after a neighbour reported a foul odour emanating from his room to the Ozuoba Police Division that sent officers who forced the door open to discover 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 that was initially before a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt.
Speaking after the judgment, Prosecuting Counsel, Obediah Charles Mbaba, lauded the judgment, saying,
“Justice has not only been done, but seen and felt to be done, in respect to the gruesome murder of Justina Otuene.“We only hope and believe that with this judgement, the soul of Justina can now rest in peace .“I also believe that this judgement 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,” he noted.
Also in his comment, Osat-Awaji Otuene, Elder Brother to the victim, Justina, asserted that the judgment was well-deserved and brought some comfort to the family.
