Anambra to prosecute those denying women inheritance rights

The Anambra State Government is taking action against those who deny women and girls the right to inherit property. The government has asked the Nigeria Police Force to investigate such complaints and forward them to the Attorney-General's office for prosecution. Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, the Attorney-General of Anambra State, revealed this in a letter to the police force.

Nweke highlighted that there have been numerous instances of girls being denied inheritances based on customs and traditional practices in the region. Despite Supreme Court rulings declaring such practices unconstitutional and illegal, discriminatory actions persist. Section 22 of Anambra State's Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017, deems this practice a crime, punishable by up to four years in prison.

Nweke has instructed the police to ensure thorough investigations of reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and transfer the case files to his ministry for further action. The Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit will be responsible for prosecuting offenders under this legislation, alongside other forms of domestic violence and sexual offenses.