Anambra State Takes Legal Action Against Gender-Based Disinheritance

The Anambra State Government has initiated legal proceedings against individuals who deny women and girls the right to inherit property due to their gender. Attorney-General Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, instructed the Nigeria Police Force to investigate complaints of gender-based disinheritance and forward the findings to his office for prosecution.

Nweke highlighted that numerous cases have been reported where girls are barred from inheriting their parents' properties due to traditional customs, despite Supreme Court rulings declaring such practices unconstitutional. He emphasized that denying inheritance rights based on gender is a criminal offense under Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017, which carries a penalty of up to four years’ imprisonment upon conviction.

The Attorney-General's letter requested thorough investigations of all reported cases and indicated that the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit would handle prosecutions related to this law and other domestic violence offenses.