Man remanded for setting wife ablaze

The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned one Anthony Avukeh in an Ebute-Meta chief magistrates’ court for allegedly setting his wife ablaze.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Olatunde Kehinde, said the 57-year-old man poured some quantity of substance suspected to be petrol on his 45-year-old wife, Peace, and allegedly set her on fire.

Consequently, he was charged with murder and act likely to cause a breakdown of law and order.

The police said the accused committed the crime during a fight with his wife.

The prosecutor also said that after emptying a container of petrol on his wife, he lit her up with matches and that the unfortunate incident happened at the couple’s residence located on Ahmed Mohammed Way, Abule Egba, Lagos.

He said the accused sustained some burns as a result of his action. The wife was rushed to a nearby hospital by some neighbours where she was rejected by the doctor on duty.

“The accused was subsequently arrested and transferred to the homicide department of the SCID,” the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor told the court that the accused accosted the victim while she was returning from an undisclosed place.

He said the couple quarreled before the husband decided to take the laws into his own hands.

The court, however, did not take his plea after the prosecutor asked the court to refer the matter to the Department of Public Prosecutor (DPP) for legal advice.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs A. A. Oshoniyi, ordered that the accused be remanded in correctional centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when the DPP’s report will be ready.