A 400-level student of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Damain Okoligwe, has been sentenced to death by hanging for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Justina Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry student at the same university.

The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt delivered the verdict after ruling that Okoligwe committed the crime on October 20, 2023, in his apartment in Mgbuoba, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

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Details of the Crime

According to court records, Okoligwe dismembered Otuene’s body and placed the remains in a wheelbarrow, allegedly intending to dispose of them before being apprehended.

Justice Chinwe Nsirim-Nwosu, who presided over the case, described the murder as:

“Intentional, composed, calculated, coordinated, and evil,”

She noted that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt the three essential elements of murder, leaving no contradictions in the evidence presented.

The judge ordered that Okoligwe “be hanged by the neck until confirmed dead.”

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Reactions

Prosecuting counsel Charles Mbaba expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating:

“This judgment will make the soul of Justina rest in peace. It will also serve as a deterrent to young people who think shortcuts are the way to survival.”

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Context

Okoligwe, who was studying Petrochemical Engineering, committed a heinous act that has shocked both the UNIPORT community and the broader public. Authorities have warned that the verdict should reinforce the seriousness of violent crimes among students and young adults.