The Anambra Government has warned that anyone in the state who denies women or girls their rightful inheritance because of their gender could face up to four years in prison.
The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, gave the warning in a letter addressed to the Nigeria Police and made available to journalists in Awka.
The Anambra Commissioner also directed the police to thoroughly investigate cases involving the denial of women and girls their inheritance rights and ensure that offenders are prosecuted.
Nweke said in the letter that depriving women of property inheritance on the basis of gender constitutes an offence under Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017 of Anambra State.
The Commissioner urged the police to investigate all reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and forward the case files to his office for prosecution.
The Attorney-General noted that despite several decisions of the Supreme Court declaring customs and practices that prevent women from inheriting property unconstitutional and illegal, some people still engage in the practice.
‘In light of the foregoing, you are kindly requested to ensure that your office thoroughly investigates all reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and that the case files are transmitted to this ministry for further action,’ Nweke said.
He disclosed that the state government had designated its Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit to prosecute offenders under the law.
The unit, he added, would also handle other cases involving domestic violence and sexual offences.