Anambra moves to prosecute denial of women’s inheritance rights

The Anambra State Government has asked police to investigate complaints against people accused of denying women and girls the right to inherit property.

Attorney-General Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, said case files from such complaints should be sent to his office for prosecution under state law.

The move follows reports of women and girls being blocked from inheriting family property because of customs and traditional practices. Nweke said such practices remain in use despite Supreme Court decisions declaring female-exclusion customs unconstitutional and illegal.

The state cited Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017 of Anambra State. The reports said gender-based disinheritance under that law is punishable by up to four years’ imprisonment.

Nweke also designated the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit in the Ministry of Justice to handle prosecutions linked to disinheritance, domestic violence and sexual offences.

Daily Post reported that the governor’s media aide, Ejimofor Opara, released details of the Attorney-General’s letter to the police.

Sources: Punch, Daily Post