Rivers Court Sentences UniPort Student to Death for Killing Girlfriend

A Rivers State High Court has convicted 26-year-old UniPort student Damian Okoligwe for the 2023 killing of his girlfriend, ruling that prosecutors proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Funmi Adewoju SuleoduNovember 28, 20251 Mins read

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has 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.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Chiwen Nsirim Nwosu ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, establishing that Okoligwe was responsible for Justina’s death in October 2023 at his residence.

Okoligwe was arrested after neighbours alerted authorities to suspicious activity, prompting police officers to intervene. The case drew widespread public attention and was later taken over by the Rivers State Government, with the murder trial commencing in May 2024.

During earlier interviews with journalists in 2023, Okoligwe denied wrongdoing, claiming he had found Justina unresponsive after falling ill. The court, however, dismissed his claims.

Following the verdict, prosecuting counsel Obediah Charles Mbaba commended the judgment, describing it as justice delivered for Justina and a warning to youths against harmful shortcuts to success.

Justina’s elder brother, Osat-Awaji Otuene, expressed relief, noting that the ruling brought a measure of comfort to the family after a long legal process.

The defence counsel declined to comment on the outcome of the case.

Author

Funmi Adewoju Suleodu

Olufunmilayo Adewoju Suleodu is a veteran journalist, editor, and publisher with more than three decades of experience in journalism, communications, and public affairs.

She has worked across news media, magazine publishing, communications, development-sector engagements, and digital journalism. She currently publishes SageBits Online and reports on governance, development, business, education, traditional institutions, and public affairs.

She is also an elected officer of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun East Independent Chapel, reflecting her continued engagement with the journalism profession and media development.

Based in Ogun State, she is available for freelance reporting, feature writing, editorial assignments, research, project documentation, and development communications work.

Detailed professional history and references are available upon request.

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Written by

Funmi Adewoju Suleodu

Olufunmilayo Adewoju Suleodu is a veteran journalist, editor, and publisher with more than three decades of experience in journalism, communications, and public affairs. She has worked across news media, magazine publishing, communications, development-sector engagements, and digital journalism. She currently publishes SageBits Online and reports on governance, development, business, education, traditional institutions, and public affairs. She is also an elected officer of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun East Independent Chapel, reflecting her continued engagement with the journalism profession and media development. Based in Ogun State, she is available for freelance reporting, feature writing, editorial assignments, research, project documentation, and development communications work. Detailed professional history and references are available upon request.