Anambra govt to prosecute persons who deny women right to inherit properties
The Anambra government has commenced moves to secure the right of women to inherit property in the state, against the popular Igbo culture of the southeast, where women are denied access to family inheritance. The age-old practice has persisted in the southeast, with many members of the public still indulging in the discriminatory practices despite […] Anambra govt to prosecute persons who deny…
The government of Anambra state is taking steps to enforce the legal right of women to inherit property, despite the deeply rooted cultural practices in the southeast of Nigeria that deny women this fundamental right. The Attorney General of Anambra State, Mr. Tobechukwu Nweke, has initiated legal proceedings against individuals who refuse to grant women their inheritance rights, following a Supreme Court ruling that declared such practices illegal.
A press release from the special assistant on media to the Anambra State Governor, Mr. Ejimofor Opara, outlines the government's commitment to prosecute offenders under Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017. This law mandates a four-year prison sentence for those found guilty of denying women their inheritance rights.
Opara's letter to the Nigeria Police Commissioner stresses that the state will promptly investigate any reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and forward the case files to the Ministry for prosecution.
The Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Unit within the Ministry has been designated to handle these prosecutions, alongside other forms of domestic violence and sexual offenses. This concerted effort by the Anambra government aims to combat the deeply entrenched cultural practices that perpetuate discrimination against women in inheritance matters, thereby upholding the legal rights enshrined in Nigerian law.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Post Nigeria's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
