Rivers Court Sentences 400-Level UNIPORT Student to Death for Murder of Girlfriend

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced a 400-level student of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Damian Okoligwe, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of the murder and dismemberment of his girlfriend, Justina Otuene. The tragic case, which shocked the university community and the entire state, reached its final judgment on Friday after months of hearings and presentations from both the prosecution and the defense.

Okoligwe, a final-year student in the Department of Petrochemical Engineering, was convicted for killing Justina, a 300-level Biochemistry student, on October 20, 2023. According to investigations, the crime was committed inside his apartment located in Mgbuoba, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. Reports indicated that the young man not only murdered his girlfriend but also dismembered her remains, a development that triggered public outrage and widespread condemnation when the news first broke.

In delivering the judgment, Justice Chinwe Nsirim-Nwosu stated that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court established that the elements required to convict someone of murder—intent, action, and causation—were all clearly met in the case against Okoligwe. The judge described his actions as “intentional, composed, calculated, coordinated, and evil,” noting that there were no contradictions in the evidence presented before the court.

Justice Nsirim-Nwosu emphasized that the brutality of the crime left no room for doubt, making it clear that the defendant had consciously and willfully carried out the act. The court consequently ordered that Okoligwe be “hanged by the neck until he is confirmed dead,” in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Outside the courtroom, lead prosecution counsel Charles Mbaba expressed satisfaction with the judgment, noting that it represented justice not only for the victim but also for her grieving family. He added that the verdict would help the soul of Justina Otuene rest in peace, as the court had affirmed responsibility for the horrific act that took her life.

Mbaba further stressed that the judgment should serve as a deterrent to young people, especially students who may be seeking shortcuts to wealth or quick success. According to him, the rise of crime involving young adults in the country calls for renewed caution and stronger moral direction.

The case has reignited conversations among Nigerians about the increasing rate of violent crimes among youths, particularly within academic environments. Many have called for more psychological support systems in tertiary institutions as well as stricter measures to curb societal pressures that sometimes push students into destructive lifestyles.

For the UNIPORT community, the judgment brings a difficult chapter closer to an end. The tragic loss of Justina and the downfall of Okoligwe serve as a painful reminder of the consequences of unchecked behavior and the irreversible damage caused by violence.