The Anambra State Government has ordered the investigation and prosecution of persons who deny women and girls their inheritance rights on the basis of gender, warning that offenders face up to four years’ imprisonment.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, gave the directive in a letter to the Nigeria Police Force, instructing the police to investigate reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and forward the case files to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution.
Nweke said denying women and girls the right to inherit property because of their gender constitutes an offence under Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017, of Anambra State.
He said the Ministry had designated its Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Unit to prosecute offenders under the law, alongside cases involving domestic violence and sexual offences.
The letter stated: “In light of the foregoing, you are kindly requested to ensure that your office thoroughly investigates all reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and that the case files are transmitted to this Ministry for further action.”
The directive comes against the backdrop of Supreme Court decisions declaring customs and practices that exclude women from inheriting property unconstitutional and illegal.
The Ministry noted, however, that discriminatory inheritance practices persisted in some communities, necessitating stronger enforcement of the law.
It therefore urged the police to ensure that all reported cases are thoroughly investigated and promptly forwarded for prosecution.
