₦airaland Forum

UNIPORT Student Sentenced To Death For Murder Of His Girlfriend

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

Okoligwe, now 26, was found guilty of killing Justina in October 2023 at his residence.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Chiwen Nsirim Nwosu held that the prosecution, led by Charles Obediah-Mbaba, proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and established that Okoligwe committed the crime. The court further ruled that Justina’s death resulted directly from his actions.

Okoligwe was arrested in 2023 after neighbours raised the alarm over his attempt to dispose of Justina’s body, which he allegedly killed for money ritual purposes. A neighbour had earlier reported a foul odour emanating from his room to the Ozuoba Police Division. Responding officers forced the door open and discovered a Ghana-must-go bag containing Justina Otuene’s dismembered body.

The murder trial commenced in May 2024, two months after the Rivers State Government took over the case. It had initially been before 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.

During an interview with journalists in 2023 at the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Okoligwe denied the allegations. He claimed he had been ill when Justina visited and said he found her lifeless when he woke up. Okoligwe further alleged that he went to his brother’s house for treatment and returned three days later to dispose of her body. He also denied removing any organs, insisting her remains were intact.

Speaking after the judgment, prosecuting counsel Obediah Charles Mbaba praised the court for ensuring justice, saying, “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 judgement, the souls of Justina can now have a peaceful repose.”

He added, “I also believe that this judgement 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 judgement will be a pointer and a lesson to the youths to work hard and abide by the laws of the land.”

Osat-Awaji Otuene, elder brother of the late Justina, said the judgment was well-deserved and brings some comfort to the family.

“I feel good, I feel calm about the whole situation. It was a very detailed judgement, 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 judgement for the case.”

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

Meanwhile, the defence lawyer declined to comment.

Source: https://dailypost.ng/2025/11/28/uniport-student-sentenced-to-death-for-murder-of-girlfriend/

Previous threads https://www.nairaland.com/7889837/missing-uniport-student-found-dead

https://www.nairaland.com/7891112/damian-okoligwe-chinemere-killed-girlfriend

What Do You Think About The Judgement?

SeeHim:
What Do You Think About The Judgement?

What do you think about the judgement?

If you did the CRIME, you must do the TERM.
Unfortunately, his term is in The BEYOND

Remember this painful case.

Greed caused it.

What a senseless murderer!

During an interview with journalists in 2023 at the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Okoligwe denied the allegations. He claimed he had been ill when Justina visited and said he found her lifeless when he woke up. Okoligwe further alleged that he went to his brother’s house for treatment and returned three days later to dispose of her body. He also denied removing any organs, insisting her remains were intact.

Nothing justifies murder but don't twist things unnecessarily. Falling in love was never her crime. Being an unwise gold digger was her crime. It is impossible to date a criminal without sensing crime all around him, in his actions, in his environment and the kind of people he moves with. The girl in question saw all the signs but went into the relationship to enjoy what he got from other preys. She never knew that she would one day become the prey.

Jennyclay:
What a lovely news, finally Justice is served

May her soul continue to rest in peace, Her only crime was to fall in love

Wicked men.

What a lovely news, finally Justice is served

May her soul continue to rest in peace, Her only crime was to fall in love

Wicked men.

A serious student should stay 100% focused on his/her studies, & not get entangled in boyfriend/girlfriend saga.

These unserious genZ younglings will never learn! Despite the whole serious challenges especially on insecurity going on in the country, na preek and towtow matter dey do these ones ..

That's how you would go online, especially Tiktok and you would see these lots catching cruise, even with the kidnapping and all..

Well, sadly, I'm announcing to y'all that Nigeria is on the brink of a civil war. It has started actually but BAT is kind of scared (for reasons best known to him) to declare it officially. Just as in 1967, but this time with the fulanis...

It's a reasonable and proportionate punishment for taking someone else's life

The governor who will refuse to sign the death warrant curse be upon him.
I curse him, as a father to daughters

Good for him.

Naira girls should also learn from this.

in this life if you kill the material desire and learn how to live without money like I did. you will hardly fall into trouble

BizzyJuel:
If you did the CRIME, you must do the TERM.
Unfortunately, his term is in The BEYOND

Nigeria governors barely sign death sentences, that guy will most likely spend his life in jail instead

Girls love bad boys, girls love bad boys, this one has sent her to met her maker. These girls just love making wrong choices that eventually bites them in the butt.

Finally, they’ve resolved the case. I thought it was going to be swept under the carpet. Justice must prevail 💯

CodeTemplarr:
Remember this painful case.

Greed caused it.

How?

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17 more characters needed.

This one no be student

but a bonafide Yahoo boy

This girls won't hear
As I'm typing another girl is leaving her studies and hostel to go visit a yahoo boy

we know how it ends

This boy still there

OP that boy there is not a UNIPORT student, it was the his slay queen girlfriend that study at UNIPORT

Kindly change your topic

Oh I remember her story.. that she left her place of IT or so to go visit sat hello to him


Continue to rest in peace beautiful one

Justice has been served swiftly to bring closure to the family. Thank goodness the criminal justice system worked well in this case.

Can't say the same for the reportage which is in twist as to whether she was an only child or not.

SeeHim:
What Do You Think About The Judgement?

They should execute the judgement speedily, I hate idiots that double as murderers.

Jennyclay:
What a lovely news, finally Justice is served

May her soul continue to rest in peace, Her only crime was to fall in love
Wicked men.

which love?

was she sent to school to fall in love

will she talk to him if he wasn't a yahoo boy

Judges are always fast to sentence everyday Nigerians to death, but too scared to hand down the same punishment on Boko Haram ans Iswap members who have killed thousands of Nigerians. Two laws, the same country.

Good bye 👋. 👋 .
His face looks destined for deathrow

JuanDeDios:
How?

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17 more characters needed.

Mistakee Love caused it.

SeeHim:
What Do You Think About The Judgement?

It came too late. He should have been offed with the girl he killed. I don't know why our justice system takes forever.

Very good judgment. Thanks to Donld Trump. Our judges don dey behave well small small. Seems they no longer stand on an assumed mandate.

If it were before, this matter for don pass through back door. And that would have been the end of the case.

Jennyclay:
What a lovely news, finally Justice is served

May her soul continue to rest in peace, Her only crime was to fall in love

Wicked men.

A very good lesson for all to learn that "all that glitters, isn't gold".

Why people like breaching like this? Ban bleaching cream from being sold in Nigeria!!

Why is the human mind so wicked? Just check out this beautiful, young, and only child of the parents!😥