The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced a 400-level University of Port Harcourt student, Damian Okoligwe, to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Justina Otuene.
Okoligwe, a Petrochemical Engineering student, was found guilty of killing Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry undergraduate, on October 20, 2023, at his residence in Mgbupba, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to court findings, he dismembered the victim’s body and attempted to move the remains away from the scene in a wheelbarrow before he was caught.
Read also:
- ECOWAS suspends Guinea-Bissau after November 26 Military Coup
- Estudiantes boss Verón banned after refusing Guard of Honour
- Israel kills top Hezbollah official in Beirut
In her judgment, Justice Chinwe Nsirim-Nwosu held that the prosecution had clearly proven its case, describing the act as deliberate and cold-blooded. She consequently ordered that the convict “be hanged by the neck until he is confirmed dead.”
Reacting after the ruling, the prosecuting counsel, Charles Mbaba, said the judgment was a victory for justice and would bring some comfort to the deceased’s family. He added that it also serves as a warning to young people about the consequences of violence.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Osatawaji, the brother of the late Otuene, expressed relief, saying the verdict provided a sense of closure and justice for their loved one.
