By Sunny A. David, Awka
The Anambra State Government has commenced moves to prosecute individuals who deny women and girls the right to inherit property on the basis of their gender.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, disclosed this in a letter addressed to the Nigeria Police Force, directing the police to investigate reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and forward the case files to his office for prosecution.
The letter, which was personally signed by the Attorney-General and made available to journalists on Monday, urged the police to thoroughly investigate complaints involving the denial of inheritance rights to females.
According to Nweke, the practice of denying women and girls the right to inherit property simply because they are female constitutes an offence under Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017 of Anambra State.
He noted that anyone found guilty under the provision could face a prison sentence of up to four years.
The Attorney-General further directed that the Ministry’s Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Unit should handle the prosecution of offenders in such cases, alongside other matters involving domestic violence and sexual offences.
He said the directive was part of efforts by the state government to address discriminatory practices against women and ensure that their legal rights are protected.
The letter stated that the police should transmit relevant case files to the Ministry of Justice after investigation for appropriate legal action.
The development comes against the backdrop of decisions by the Supreme Court declaring discriminatory customs and practices that prevent women from inheriting property unconstitutional and unlawful.
Despite these judicial pronouncements, the state government noted that some discriminatory practices against women in matters of inheritance still persist in parts of the society.
The latest directive is therefore expected to strengthen enforcement of existing laws and provide legal recourse for women and girls who are denied their inheritance rights because of their gender.
