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, 300-level Biochemistry student, Justina Otuene.

Justice Chiwen Nsirim Nwosu delivered the ruling on Friday, declaring that the prosecution, led by Charles Obediah-Mbaba, had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court affirmed that Okoligwe, now 26, was responsible for Justina’s death, which occurred in October 2023 at his residence.

Okoligwe was arrested after neighbours alerted the police to a foul odour coming from his room, prompting officers from Ozuoba Police Division to forcefully enter the apartment. They discovered Justina’s dismembered body stuffed inside a Ghana-must-go bag. He was subsequently accused of killing her for alleged ritual purposes.

The case, initially heard at a Magistrate Court, was transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution in November 2023 before the murder trial commenced in May 2024 under the state’s supervision.

Despite denying the allegations in a 2023 media interview, Okoligwe admitted returning days after her death to dispose of the body but insisted he never removed any organs.

Following the judgment, prosecuting counsel Obediah Charles Mbaba commended the court for delivering justice, noting that the verdict brings closure to the family of the deceased and serves as a deterrent to youths seeking quick wealth through unlawful means.

Justina’s elder brother, Osat-Awaji Otuene, described the judgment as “well-deserved,” expressing relief that the family finally received justice.

The defence counsel declined to comment on the ruling.