A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has convicted and sentenced Damian Okoligwe, a 26-year-old 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student at the University of Port Harcourt, to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Justina Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry student at the same institution.
Okoligwe was found guilty of killing Justina in October 2023 at his residence. Justice Chiwen Nsirim Nwosu, who delivered the judgment on Friday, stated that the prosecution, led by Charles Obediah-Mbaba, proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, demonstrating that Okoligwe committed the crime. The court also ruled that Justina’s death directly resulted from his actions.
The arrest of Okoligwe occurred after neighbors alerted authorities about his attempts to dispose of Justina’s body, which he allegedly killed for ritual purposes. A neighbor reported a foul odor coming from his room to the Ozuoba Police Division. Responding officers forcibly entered the apartment 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 assumed the case, which had initially been in a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt. In November 2023, Chief Magistrate Nnenda Obiageri Onugbum ordered that the case file be transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.
In an interview with journalists at the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt in 2023, Okoligwe denied the allegations. He claimed he had been ill when Justina visited and found her lifeless when he awoke. Okoligwe further alleged that he went to his brother’s house for treatment and returned three days later to dispose of her body. He denied removing any organs, insisting that her remains were intact.
After the judgment, prosecuting counsel Obediah Charles Mbaba praised the court for ensuring justice. He stated, “Justice has not only been done but seen and felt to be done regarding the gruesome murder of Justina Otuene. Justina was the only daughter of her parents and was brutally murdered by Damian Okoligwe in circumstances suggestive of ritual intent. Today, the court has pronounced him guilty of her murder. We hope and believe that with this judgment, Justina’s soul can now have peace.”
He added, “I believe this judgment will serve as a deterrent to youths who think that shortcuts to wealth are the only means to get rich quickly. This judgment will be a reminder for the youth to work hard and abide by the laws of the land.”
Osat-Awaji Otuene, Justina’s elder brother, expressed that the judgment was well-deserved and brings some comfort to the family. “I feel good and calm about the whole situation. The judgment was detailed and well-structured. I commend Justice Nsirim for the coordinated proceedings in court today. I am relieved that my sister did not die in vain. The judgment she rightly deserves has been delivered.”
Meanwhile, the defense lawyer declined to comment.
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