Metro
Court Sentences UNIPORT Student to Death by Hanging for Killing Girlfriend
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has convicted and sentenced a 400-level Petrochemical Engineering student of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Damian Okoligwe, to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Justina Otuene, a 300-level Biochemistry student of the same institution.
Okoligwe, now 26, was found guilty of killing Justina in October 2023 at his residence.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Chiwen Nsirim Nwosu held that the prosecution, led by Charles Obediah-Mbaba, proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and established that Okoligwe committed the crime. The court further ruled that Justina’s death resulted directly from his actions.
Okoligwe was arrested in 2023 after neighbours raised the alarm over his attempt to dispose of Justina’s body, which he allegedly killed for money ritual purposes. A neighbour had earlier reported a foul odour emanating from his room to the Ozuoba Police Division. Responding officers forced the door open and discovered a Ghana-must-go bag containing Justina Otuene’s dismembered body.
The murder trial commenced in May 2024, two months after the Rivers State Government took over the case. It had initially been before a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt, but in November 2023, Chief Magistrate Nnenda Obiageri Onugbum ordered that the case file be transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution, DPP, for legal advice.
During an interview with journalists in 2023 at the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Okoligwe denied the allegations. He claimed he had been ill when Justina visited and said he found her lifeless when he woke up. Okoligwe further alleged that he went to his brother’s house for treatment and returned three days later to dispose of her body. He also denied removing any organs, insisting her remains were intact.
Speaking after the judgment, prosecuting counsel, Obediah Charles Mbaba, praised the court for ensuring justice, saying, “Justice has not only been done, but seen and felt to be done, in respect to the gruesome murder of Justina Otuene.
“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 of the murder of Justina Otuene.
“We only hope and believe that with this judgment, the souls of Justina can now have a peaceful repose.”
He added: “I also believe that this judgment will serve as a deterrent to youths who believe that short cut in life is the only means to get rich as quickly as possible.
“This judgment will be a pointer and a lesson to the youths to work hard and abide by the laws of the land.”
Osat-Awaji Otuene, elder brother of the late Justina, said the judgment was well-deserved and brings some comfort to the family.
“I feel good, I feel calm about the whole situation. 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. So, I’m really glad that we had the correct and the right judgment for the case.”
He added: “It’s a relief, and it’s certain that my sister didn’t just die for nothing. So, the judgment has been given and the judgment was deserved. Of course it is a relief to the family.”
At a time when concerns over youth involvement in crimes, cultism and other vices, continue to reverberate across communities in Lagos, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, has issued a firm and unequivocal charge to young people and community advocates to uphold integrity and reject all forms of social vices.
Speaking at a strategic implementation meeting with members of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund Campaign Against Crimes, Cultism and Other Vices (LSSTF-CACCOV), led by its State Coordinator, Dr. Moses Oladimeji, Ogunsan stressed that the success of any security intervention rests heavily on the moral standing and personal discipline of those entrusted with its execution.
During the meeting, the LSSTF CEO also announced that the Agency’s
prevention initiative against Crimes, Cultism and Other Vices, LSSTF-CACCOV will be addressing thousands of students at its Flagship Youth Security Awareness and Orientation Campaign at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in May, 2026. This will be immediately followed by another youth campaign focused on Cybersecurity and Digital Security.
In a strongly worded address, he cautioned members of the Committee against any conduct capable of tarnishing the credibility of the initiative: “You, yourselves, must rise above board. No one must accuse you of defrauding them; the moment we hear it, you are off. I don’t want anyone to bring disrepute to this organization. We will publicly disclaim you if you do so. You have to work on yourself. This goes beyond you personally to those you relate with. You have a friend and the friend is a cultist; no, you are not supposed to be there.”
The LSSTF-CACCOV initiative represents a preventive, community-driven approach to tackling insecurity by engaging youths constructively and steering them away from crime, cultism, and other destructive behaviors. In Lagos, the city regarded as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and West Africa’s economic hub, stakeholders have consistently underscored the direct link between security and economic productivity. Youths, who constitute a significant portion of the population, remain central to this equation.
Dr. Ogunsan further urged young people across Lagos to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their communities, emphasizing the importance of reporting suspicious activities and fostering a culture of accountability. According to him, sustainable development cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness.
Responding on behalf of the Committee spearheading the crime prevention initiative of LSSTF, Dr. Oladimeji reaffirmed the group’s commitment to grassroots engagement and behavioral reorientation among youths: “We understand that the issues of crime and cultism are concerns that worry every community. So, the initiative is a preventive approach to positively engage youths to resist vices, cultism, and crime, so that we can all live in a peaceful environment. Because if businesses will thrive and careers will grow, security will be of major importance.”
Security experts have long noted that investment in youth development, including through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and gainful engagement, remains one of the most effective tools for crime prevention. By positioning young people as both stakeholders and ambassadors of peace, LSSTF-CACCOV aims to reshape community narratives and reinforce the values of responsibility, productivity, and lawful conduct.
Present at the strategic implementation meeting are the Executive Secretary/CEO, LSSTF Dr Ayodele Ogunsan; Director of Administration, LSSTF, Mr. Adegbola Lewis; Executive Assistant, LSSTF, Mrs. Adaobi Nwankwo; State Coordinator, Lagos State Security Trust Fund Campaign Against Crime, Cultism and Other Vices (LSSTF-CACCOV), Dr. Moses Oladimeji; Assistant State Coordinator/General Secretary, LSSTF-CACCOV, Uzezi Akinwoleola; Head, Human Resources and Training, LSSTF-CACCOV, Prominence Promise; Head, Education, Advocacy and Empowerment, LSSTF-CACCOV, Joseph Akinwoleola; Head, Media, Press and Public Relations, LSSTF-CACCOV, Taiwo Idris; and Head, Strategy, Digital Communication, and Technology, Olugbogi Nathanael
A man whose identity had not been established at the time of filing this report was rescued after reportedly attempting to jump into the Lagos Lagoon from a bridge.
Eyewitnesses said the individual parked his vehicle on the bridge before entering the water, prompting alarm among passersby.
The situation was, however, swiftly brought under control as local fishermen in the area intervened and pulled him out of the lagoon, preventing what could have resulted in a fatal outcome.
A video capturing the rescue surfaced on social media on Wednesday, shared by Isaac Fayose, who expressed concern over the incident and called on Nigerians to pay closer attention to the well-being of those around them.
“Please, check on your family and friends. This just happened today. Who knows what went wrong,” he wrote.
As of the time of this report, the circumstances leading to the incident remain unclear, while authorities have yet to provide an official account.
The Lagos State Police Command had also not issued any confirmation of the incident.
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