A woman, Woye Ella, has officially sought divorce from her husband after he attempted to set her ablaze in a horrifying act of domestic violence. The distressed woman took legal action by filing a petition against her spouse in an FCT Customary Court in Garki, Abuja, seeking the dissolution of their marriage due to her husband's violent and life-threatening behavior.
During the court session held on Tuesday, Ella, a businesswoman, recounted the series of terrifying experiences she had endured at the hands of her husband. She described him as a man with a short temper, who often overreacted to minor provocations in an excessively aggressive manner.
She further disclosed that her husband’s violent tendencies were not limited to verbal abuse but frequently escalated into physical threats. According to her, he would often become extremely hostile, chasing her around their home with dangerous objects such as a screwdriver and a knife, putting her life at risk.
Ella narrated a particularly traumatizing incident where her husband took his aggression to an unthinkable level. “It got to a point that he poured petrol on me to set me on fire. It was only through the timely intervention of my neighbours that I was saved that day,” she recalled.
She explained that her neighbours, upon witnessing the horrifying act, quickly intervened and overpowered her husband before he could go through with his intentions. He was subsequently handed over to the police, where he was detained for four days before his father arrived from the village to secure his release.
Ella stated that when her husband was questioned about his actions, he was unable to provide any reasonable explanation for his behavior, leaving her even more fearful for her safety.
The petitioner told the court that following the traumatic incident, she made the difficult decision to move out of their home for fear of being killed by her estranged spouse. She expressed that she no longer felt safe living under the same roof with a man who had attempted to take her life.
In addition to seeking the formal dissolution of her marriage, Ella urged the court to issue an order compelling her husband to vacate the apartment they previously shared before her departure. She stated that she is the rightful owner of the property, having purchased the land and built the house herself.
She pleaded with the court to recognize her ownership rights and ensure that her husband is legally required to leave the residence, allowing her to reclaim her property and move forward with her life in peace and safety.