Student sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of his 20-year-old girlfriend.
A Rivers State High Court has reportedly sentenced 24-year-old UNIPORT student, Damian Chinaemerem Okoligwe, to death by hanging after he was found guilty of murdering and dismembering his 20-year-old girlfriend, Justina Otuene, in 2023.
The case, which shocked the nation, has now reached a decisive legal conclusion after months of investigation and trial.
Justina Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry student, was declared missing in October 2023 before her dismembered remains were discovered in Okoligwe’s apartment at the University of Port Harcourt area.
Okoligwe, a 400-level Petroleum Engineering student, reportedly lured her to his newly rented home after claiming he was ill. She never made it back home.
According to court documents and police testimony, Okoligwe claimed he panicked after allegedly finding her unresponsive the next morning. Instead of contacting authorities, he dismembered her body and stuffed the parts into multiple “Ghana-Must-Go” bags with the intention of disposing of them across the city.
His plan unraveled when a neighbor alerted the police over a strong stench coming from his flat.
Investigators, however, dismissed his claim of innocence. Before her remains were found, Justina’s family had received suspicious ransom calls despite the fact that she was already dead.
Police also discovered that Justina had no known romantic ties to Okoligwe, and neither friends nor family recognized him.
The court determined that his actions were deliberate, calculated, and intended to conceal a crime. With the evidence presented, the judge ruled for the maximum penalty—death by hanging.
The ruling brings closure to a case that left the UNIPORT community and the nation horrified, while Justina’s family continues to mourn the tragic loss of their daughter.
Also read: https://thebreakingdesk.com/daddy-lumba-widow-court-ruling/
Frim Pong
Frim Pong
Comments ()