Damian Okoligwe, a 400-level student of Petrochemical Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been remanded in prison over the murder of his girlfriend, Justina Otuene Nkang.
The Nigerian Police Force, Rivers State Command had in early October confirmed that the 20-year-old Justina was found dead in the home of Damian after she had been declared missing days earlier.
According to Channels Television, when the case was called, the prosecution made an application for remand proceedings, praying the court to consign him to the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service or NCoS.
He further prayed the court that the case file be sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions for future advice. This application went unopposed by the defence counsel.
In her ruling, Magistrate Obiageri Anugbum said the accusations were very grievous and as such remanded Damian in prison custody even as she ordered that the case file be removed to the DPP’s office; adjourning the case to 15th December 2023 for legal advice.
In another development, three persons have been killed and three others arrested in the Sagamu area of Ogun State, the State Police Command confirmed.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Omolola Odutola, stated that some suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.
She identified the suspects as Oluwatosin Adeniro, Adebayo Oluwasun, and Segun Ademola.
“During a routine weekend patrol in Sagamu, by the Divisional Police Officer on Sunday, 12th November 2023, an intelligence was intercepted by the Divisional Police Officer or DPO from a concerned citizen with a private identity,” the statement read.
“According to the information provided, a group of unknown men suspected to be cultists, approximately six in number, had gone to the Agbowa area to foment trouble causing rival cult group clash,” she said. Adding: “Cordoning off the scene of the crime, eight expended cartridges, one live cartridge, and one Samsung phone were recovered from the scene of the crime.”