The Anambra State Government has directed the police to investigate cases of gender-based disinheritance and forward them for prosecution, with offenders facing up to four years in prison under state law.
The Anambra State Government has begun taking steps to prosecute individuals who deny women and girls the right to inherit property because of their gender.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has directed the Nigerian Police to investigate reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and forward the case files to his office for prosecution.
This was contained in a letter personally signed by the Attorney General and made available to journalists on Monday, September 26, 2026.
In the letter, Nweke explained that denying women and girls their inheritance because they are females is a criminal offence under Section 22 of the Anambra State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017.
He stated that anyone found guilty of the offence could face up to four years imprisonment.
The Attorney General also directed the police to ensure that all complaints relating to the denial of women's inheritance rights are properly investigated and forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for further action.
To ensure effective prosecution, the Ministry has assigned the responsibility to its Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Unit.
The unit will handle cases involving the denial of inheritance rights, alongside other forms of domestic violence and sexual offences.
The government’s move comes despite previous Supreme Court judgments declaring customs and practices that prevent women from inheriting property unconstitutional and illegal.
However, some people in the state are still reported to be practising such discrimination against women and girls.
The latest action by the Attorney General is aimed at enforcing the law and ensuring that those who deny females their rightful inheritance are held accountable.
Admin Ekwulobia.
