Kaduna Court ends Six-Year marriage iver domestic abuse, threat to life

A Customary Court in Kaduna has officially ended the six-year marriage between a 37-year-old businesswoman, Hannah, and her husband, Caleb Williams, due to repeated battery and threats to her life.

In his ruling on Thursday, Judge Dauda John declared that the marriage had broken down completely and could no longer be salvaged. “No one should be forced to stay in a toxic marriage, and the wife deserves peace and emotional relief,” he stated.

The judge ruled that the union had collapsed beyond redemption, particularly because of the threats involved. “There is no need to remain under the same roof when life is at risk,” he added. He ordered the dissolution of the marriage with effect from April 10.

The court also awarded custody of the couple’s five-year-old son to the mother and instructed her to return the N50,000 dowry paid by the respondent.

During earlier proceedings, Hannah told the court she could no longer endure the physical and emotional abuse from her husband, which worsened after the loss of their second child three years ago.

“My lord, I can no longer bear the emotional and physical abuse, as well as maltreatment,” she said. She explained that attempts to address his behaviour only led to more violence and that he would often tell her to leave the marriage if she was tired.

She revealed that she had been beaten severely multiple times, often requiring neighbours to intervene. According to her, while beating her, her husband would shout that she would either leave his house alive or dead. “I am afraid I might not be lucky next time as he might beat me to death,” she told the court.

Hannah pleaded with the court to end the marriage, saying she no longer felt safe and that her mental health and her child’s well-being were her top priorities. “I can no longer stay with someone I am constantly afraid of, someone who criticises everything I do rather than show me love; I am living in a prison, not a marriage,” she said.

Her husband, Caleb, denied all the accusations, describing his wife as stubborn and unyielding. He admitted that their relationship had reached a dead end and also urged the court to grant the divorce, noting that she had refused all his attempts to reconcile.