“You Will Die By Hanging For Killing Your Girlfriend For Money Rituals” – Court Tells UNIPORT 400 Level Student

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced a 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student of University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Damian Okoligwe, to death by hanging for killing his girlfriend, Justina Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry student of the same institution.

According to the prosecuting lawyer, Obadiah-Mbaba, Okoligwe murdered his girlfriend with ritual intentions in a bid to get rich quick.

Okoligwe, now 26, was found guilty of killing Otuene in October 2023 in his residence in Port Harcourt.

Delivering judgment today, Justice Chiwen Nsirim Nwosu held that the prosecution, led by Obadiah-Mbaba, proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and established that Okoligwe committed the crime.

The court further ruled that Otuene’s death resulted directly from his actions.

Okoligwe was arrested in 2023 after neighbours raised the alarm over his attempt to dispose of Otuene’s body, with suspicion high at the time that he allegedly killed her for money ritual purposes.

A neighbour had earlier reported a foul odour emanating from his room to the Ozuoba Police Division.

Responding, police officers forced the door open and discovered a ‘Ghana-must-go’ bag containing Otuene’s dismembered body.

The murder trial commenced in May, 2024, two months after the Rivers State Government took over the case.

The matter was initiated at a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt, but 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 as her court lacked jurisdiction to handle the case.

Following his arrest, Okoligwe spoke with newsmen in 2023 at the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters and denied allegations of murdering the girl.

He claimed he had been ill when Otuene visited and said he found her lifeless when he woke up from an illness-induced sleep.

He further claimed that, due to the severity of his illness, he went to his brother’s house for medical treatment, but returned three days later to dispose of her body.

Okoligwe also denied removing any organs from Otuene’s body, asserting that her remains were intact.

Nonetheless, speaking after today’s judgment, Obadiah-Mbaba hailed the court for ensuring justice.

He said: “Justice has not only been done, but seen and felt to be done, in respect to the gruesome murder of Justina Otuene.

“Justina was the only daughter of her parents, but was gruesomely murdered by Damian Okoligwe in circumstances suggestive of ritual intention. Today the court has pronounced him guilty of the murder of Justina Otuene.

“We only hope and believe that with this judgment, the soul of Justina can now have a peaceful repose.

“I also believe that this judgment will serve as a deterrent to youths who believe that short cut in life is the only means to get rich as quickly as possible.

“This judgment will be a pointer and a lesson to the youth to work hard and abide by the laws of the land.”

Elder brother of the deceased, Osat-Awaji Otuene, on his part, equally praised the judgment as well-deserved, saying it brings some comfort to the bereaved family.

His words: “I feel good, I feel calm about the whole situation. It was a very detailed judgment, very well structured. I really want to commend the judge, Justice Nsirim.

“Everything was well coordinated in court today. So, I’m really glad that we had the correct and the right judgment for the case.

“It’s a relief, and it’s certain that my sister didn’t just die for nothing. So, the judgment has been given and the judgment was deserved. Of course it is a relief to the family.”

The defence lawyer refused to comment.