A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced a University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) student, Damian Okoligwe, to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Justina Otuene. The judgment, delivered on Friday by Justice Chiwen Nsirim Nwosu, brought an end to a case that shocked many Nigerians in 2023 and raised fresh concerns about rising cases of ritual-related killings.
Okoligwe, a 26-year-old 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student, was convicted for killing Justina, a 300-level Biochemistry student, in October 2023 at his Ozuoba residence in Port Harcourt. The court ruled that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Okoligwe intentionally caused her death.
The incident came to light in late 2023 after neighbours noticed a foul smell emanating from Okoligwe’s room. At first, those living around him suspected he had left food to spoil or had failed to dispose of waste. But when the odour grew stronger and more disturbing, one neighbour contacted the Ozuoba Police Division.
Responding officers forced open the door and were met with a gruesome sight: a Ghana-must-go bag containing the dismembered body of 20-year-old Justina Otuene. The shocking discovery immediately sparked outrage and fear in the community, with many accusing Okoligwe of killing her for ritual purposes. The police arrested him on the spot.
Initially, the case was before a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt, but the severity of the crime made it clear the matter required a higher court. In November 2023, Chief Magistrate Nnenda Obiageri Onugbum ordered that the file be transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. The Rivers State Government later took over the prosecution.
The murder trial officially began in May 2024, with the prosecution led by counsel Charles Obediah-Mbaba. Over several months, the state presented witnesses and evidence linking Okoligwe directly to the murder.
Justice Nwosu, in her ruling, stated that the evidence showed clearly that Justina died as a direct result of Okoligwe’s actions. She also held that the prosecution successfully countered the claims Okoligwe made during his police interviews in 2023.
Shortly after his arrest in 2023, Okoligwe had told journalists at the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters that he did not kill Justina. He claimed he was sick when she visited him and said that after falling asleep, he woke up to find her dead. His explanation, however, raised several questions.
According to him, he left the house to seek treatment at his brother’s place and returned three days later. He alleged that he decided to dispose of her body because he panicked. He denied removing any of her organs, insisting her body was found intact.
Throughout the investigation, police officers and prosecutors disputed his claims, describing them as “implausible and inconsistent with the evidence at the scene.” Justice Nwosu agreed with the prosecution and dismissed the defendant’s statements as “deliberate attempts to mislead.”
Speaking after the judgment, prosecuting counsel Charles Obediah-Mbaba commended the court for delivering what he described as “clear and measurable justice.” He expressed relief that the matter had come to a logical end and that the victim’s family could now find some peace.
“Justice has not only been done but seen and felt to be done,” he told journalists. “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.”
He added that he hopes the judgment will deter young people from pursuing “shortcuts to wealth,” saying the case should serve as a warning to those who believe they can get rich quickly through harmful means.
“This judgement will be a pointer and a lesson to youths to work hard and abide by the laws of the land,” he said.
For the Otuene family, the court’s decision brought a measure of comfort after nearly two years of emotional trauma. Justina’s elder brother, Osat-Awaji Otuene, said the judgment was “well-deserved” and thanked the court for handling the matter thoroughly.
“I feel good, I feel calm about the whole situation,” he said. “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.”
He added that while the pain of losing Justina will never fully fade, the judgment reassures the family that the law worked as it should. “It’s a relief, and it’s certain that my sister didn’t just die for nothing. The judgment was deserved. Of course, it is a relief to the family.”
The case revived conversations about the rising number of ritual-related killings across Nigeria, particularly involving young people. Several states have recorded similar cases in recent years, where suspects—often young adults or students—are accused of killing acquaintances, lovers, or strangers in hopes of obtaining wealth through ritual practices.
With the sentencing of Okoligwe to death by hanging, the court has closed one of the most disturbing criminal cases in Rivers State in recent years. The judgment marks the end of a long wait for justice by Justina’s family and community.
As the case continues to spark conversations about safety, youth values and the need for stronger guidance within schools and communities, many hope that Justina’s tragic death will lead to renewed efforts to protect vulnerable young people.
