Picnews
A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt handed down a death‑by‑hanging sentence to Damian Okoligwe, a 400‑level Petrochemical Engineering student at the University of Port Harcourt, for the murder of his girlfriend, Justina Otuene.
The gruesome act happened on 20 October 2023 when Okoligwe strangled Otuene in his apartment in Mgbuoba, Obio‑Akpor LGA, then dismembered her body and tried to dump the remains in a wheelbarrow before neighbours raised the alarm.
Delivering the verdict on Friday, Justice Chinwe Nsirim‑Nwosu said the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt the three essential elements of murder, describing Okoligwe’s conduct as “intentional, composed, calculated, coordinated, and evil”
Prosecuting counsel Charles Mbaba welcomed the judgment, saying it would bring solace to Justina’s family and serve as a deterrent to anyone thinking of taking shortcuts through violence.
Justina’s elder brother, Osatawaji Otuene, expressed relief outside the court, calling the ruling “well‑structured” and saying it eased the pain of losing his sister.
The case has drawn widespread attention across the university community and beyond, highlighting the severe consequences of violent crime and the court’s commitment to delivering justice.
