Anambra State to prosecute those denying women inheritance rights

The Anambra State government has launched efforts to prosecute individuals who deny women and girls the right to inherit property. Attorney General Tobechukwu Nweke has formally requested the Nigeria Police Force to investigate complaints regarding gender-based disinheritance and forward case files to his office for legal action.

Nweke noted that despite Supreme Court rulings declaring discriminatory customs unconstitutional, some individuals continue to prevent females from inheriting parental property based on traditional practices. Under Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of 2017, such actions are classified as crimes punishable by up to four years of imprisonment. The state's Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Unit has been designated to handle these prosecutions.