The Anambra State Government has commenced moves to prosecute individuals who deny women and girls their legal right to inherit property based on their gender.
The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, disclosed this in a letter addressed to the Nigeria Police Force, directing the police to investigate complaints involving gender-based disinheritance and forward the case files to his office for prosecution.
According to the letter, the practice of denying women and girls inheritance solely because they are female constitutes a criminal offence under Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017 of Anambra State, with offenders liable to imprisonment.
The Attorney-General directed the police to ensure that all reported cases are thoroughly investigated, while designating the Ministry’s Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Unit to prosecute offenders.
The move is aimed at strengthening enforcement against discriminatory customary practices that prevent women from inheriting family property.
The development comes against the backdrop of Supreme Court decisions which have declared discriminatory customs and practices excluding women from inheriting property unconstitutional.
Despite these judicial pronouncements, concerns remain over the continued application of such practices in some communities.
The Anambra Government’s directive therefore signals a renewed focus on investigating and prosecuting persons who allegedly violate women’s inheritance rights under state law.
