The Rivers State Government has taken over the prosecution of the murder trial of Damian Okoligwe, a 400L student in the Department of Petrochemical Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt.

Okoligwe was accused in 2023 of killing his girlfriend, Justina Otuene, a 300L Biochemistry student at the same university.

Following the arraignment of the suspect by the Rivers State Police Command, the Office of the Attorney General of Rivers State filed charges against Okoligwe in the State High Court, after receiving advice from the Department of Public Prosecution, DPP.

During Tuesday’s court proceedings, the defendant, Okoligwe, and his legal representative were not present.

The presiding judge, Justice C. A. Nsirim, adjourned the case to Tuesday, April 23, 2024, and directed that the suspect be brought to court to enter his plea on the specified date.