A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has condemned Damian Okoligwe, a 400-level petrochemical engineering student at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Justina Nkemenna Otuene, a 300-level biochemistry student of the institution.
The tragic incident took place on October 20, 2023, at Okoligwe’s residence in Mgbuoba, Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State.
During an argument, the convict strangled Justina to death, dismembered her body, placed the remains in a bag, and attempted to wheel them away in a barrow before neighbours caught him and informed the police.
Delivering judgement on Friday, presiding judge Chinwe Nsirim-Nwosu ruled that the prosecution—represented by the Rivers State Ministry of Justice—proved beyond reasonable doubt that the deceased died, that the act was carried out by the defendant, and that he acted with full knowledge that his actions would lead to death.
The judge described Okoligwe’s conduct as “intentional, composed, calculated, coordinated, and evil,” noting that the prosecution’s evidence contained no significant contradictions.
“The defendant is hereby sentenced to death by hanging on the neck until he be confirmed dead,” Nsirim-Nwosu declared.
Reacting to the judgement, Osatawaji Otuene, the deceased’s elder brother, expressed relief and praised the court for delivering a “detailed and well-structured judgement.”
“I feel good. It is a relief because at least it is certain that my sister didn’t die for nothing,” he told journalists outside the courtroom.