Anambra Cracks Down on Female Property Disinheritance

​Anambra State has drawn a hard line against the marginalization of women and girls, launching a aggressive prosecutorial drive to dismantle entrenched cultural practices that bar females from property inheritance.

​Tobechukwu Nweke SAN, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, has formally directed the Nigerian Police Force to investigate and transfer all complaints concerning gender-based disinheritance to his office. The directive aims to bring offenders to justice under the state’s legal framework.

​The Legal Framework

​The state government is leveraging Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017. Under this legislative provision, denying a female her rightful inheritance solely based on gender is classified as a criminal offense. Violators face serious legal consequences, including a prison sentence of up to four years upon conviction.

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​To streamline enforcement, the Ministry of Justice has designated its dedicated Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Unit to oversee these cases. The unit will directly manage the prosecution of perpetrators alongside other domestic violence and related offenses.

​Defying the Supreme Court

​This enforcement push comes in response to persistent violations of constitutional rights. Despite landmark rulings by the Supreme Court of Nigeria that explicitly declared customs and traditions excluding females from inheritance as unconstitutional, discriminatory practices remain prevalent across various communities.

​Legal experts and human rights advocates have long argued that customary laws subjugating women violate constitutional provisions guaranteeing equality. By mobilizing state prosecutorial powers, the Anambra State government aims to bridge the gap between progressive jurisprudence and grassroots enforcement, ensuring that women and girls can fully exercise their property rights without fear of intimidation or disenfranchisement.

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