The Anambra State Government has begun steps to prosecute individuals who deny women and girls the right to inherit property because of their gender.
The state has asked the Nigeria Police Force to investigate complaints of gender-based disinheritance and forward the case files to the Attorney-General’s office for prosecution.
The Attorney-General of Anambra State, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, disclosed this in a letter to the police, which he personally signed and was made available to journalists on Tuesday.
Nweke said there had been several cases of girls being prevented from inheriting properties belonging to their parents based on customs and traditional practices in the region.
He noted that the Supreme Court had declared customs and practices that prevent females from inheriting property unconstitutional and illegal.
Despite the court’s decisions, the Attorney-General said some people continued to engage in the discriminatory practice.
According to the letter, denying women and girls their right to inherit property because of their gender constitutes an offence under Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017 of Anambra State.
The offence is punishable by up to four years’ imprisonment.
Nweke directed the police to thoroughly investigate reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and forward the case files to his ministry for further action.
He also said the ministry had designated its Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit to prosecute offenders under the law, alongside other cases involving domestic violence and sexual offences.
