The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has delivered a landmark judgment, sentencing a University of Port Harcourt student to death by hanging for the brutal murder of his girlfriend.
The Gruesome Crime That Shocked UNIPORT
Damian Okoligwe, a 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student at UNIPORT, was found guilty of murdering Justina Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry student, on October 20, 2023. The horrific incident occurred at Okoligwe's apartment in Mgbuoba, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Evidence presented in court revealed the extreme nature of the crime. After killing his girlfriend, Okoligwe dismembered her body and attempted to dispose of the remains using a wheelbarrow. His arrest came before he could successfully eliminate the evidence of his heinous act.
Court Delivers Final Judgment
On Friday, November 28, 2025, Justice Chinwe Nsirim-Nwosu delivered the final verdict after thorough consideration of the case. The judge ruled that the prosecution had proven their case beyond reasonable doubt, leaving no room for alternative interpretations of events.
In her powerful statement, Justice Nsirim-Nwosu described Okoligwe's actions as "intentional, calculated, coordinated, and evil". The court ordered that the convicted student be "hanged on the neck until confirmed dead", bringing a legal conclusion to the two-year legal battle.
Reactions to the Verdict
Outside the courtroom, prosecuting lawyer Charles Mbaba expressed satisfaction with the judgment. He stated that the verdict would serve multiple purposes: providing consolation to the victim's grieving family and sending a strong deterrent message to young people against taking harmful shortcuts in life.
The victim's brother, Osatawaji, also spoke to journalists, acknowledging that while the judgment couldn't bring his sister back, it provided much-needed relief and a sense of justice for their family. The Otuene family has endured immense pain since the tragic loss of their daughter, a promising biochemistry student with a bright future ahead of her.
This case has drawn significant attention to issues of campus relationships, violence among students, and the justice system's handling of such severe crimes within academic communities across Nigeria.
