Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Anambra State Government has initiated formal steps to prosecute individuals who deny women and girls the right to inherit property, directing the Nigeria Police Force to investigate complaints of gender-based disinheritance and transmit case files to the Office of the Attorney-General for prosecution. The move, disclosed in a letter personally signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, and made available to journalists on Monday, September 28, 2026, represents one of the most direct interventions by a state government in the South-East on an issue rooted in customary norms that have persisted for generations despite repeated judicial pronouncements against them.
In the letter, Nweke noted that there had been several cases of girls being prevented from inheriting properties owned by their parents, based on what had been described as customs and traditional practices of the Igbo people. He said that despite Supreme Court decisions declaring such customs and practices unconstitutional and illegal, some members of the public still engaged in the discriminatory practices. "The letter noted that the obnoxious practices of denying women and girls of their right to inherit property because they are females amount to a crime under Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017 of Anambra State and punishable with up to four years imprisonment," said Ejimofor Opara, the Special Assistant on Media to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, in a press release quoting the letter.
The Attorney-General instructed the police to ensure that the office thoroughly investigates all reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and that the case files are transmitted to the Ministry of Justice for further action. To effectively combat the practice, the ministry has designated its Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit to handle the prosecution of offenders under the law, alongside other forms of domestic violence and sexual offences. The directive effectively creates a clear legal pathway for women who have previously had little recourse against relatives or community members who excluded them from family property. The Ministry of Justice urged the police to treat complaints of the practice seriously and ensure that cases meeting the relevant legal threshold are promptly referred for prosecution.
The legal foundation for the crackdown is Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017 of Anambra State, which criminalises emotional, verbal or psychological abuse, and recognises forced financial dependence or economic abuse through denial of inheritance or succession rights. The law also covers the unreasonable deprivation of economic or financial resources to which any person is entitled. The VAPP Law, as it is commonly known, was enacted to eliminate violence in private and public life and provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims. The designation of the SGBV Unit to handle these prosecutions signals that the state government views gender-based disinheritance not merely as a civil wrong or a cultural matter but as a form of domestic abuse that falls squarely within the criminal justice system.
The Anambra government's move comes against a long and contentious legal history. In a landmark 2014 decision, the Supreme Court of Nigeria upheld the Court of Appeal's ruling in the case of Anekwe v. Nweke, declaring that the custom of the Awka people in Anambra State which allowed married women to be disinherited upon the death of their husband because they did not have a male child was repulsive and unconstitutional. The court held that such customs were discriminatory and violated the widow's right to inherit her husband's property. The Supreme Court's decision was binding on all courts in Nigeria and established a clear legal precedent that customs and practices which exclude women from inheriting property are unconstitutional and illegal. Despite this ruling, the practice has persisted in many communities across the South-East, where customary inheritance laws have traditionally favoured male children and male relatives over widows and daughters.
The persistence of the practice despite judicial pronouncements reflects a deep-seated gap between law and social reality. The enforcement of court judgments often depends on the willingness of police and prosecutors to treat violations as criminal matters, and on victims having the resources and support to pursue legal action against family members and community leaders. In many cases, women who are denied inheritance face social ostracism, pressure to accept the decision, and a lack of awareness of their legal rights. The Anambra government's decision to formally direct the police to investigate and transmit case files represents an attempt to close that gap by activating the criminal justice system as a tool for enforcement.
The Anambra State Government has previously signalled its willingness to address these issues. In June 2026, the state government issued a strong warning to traditional and religious leaders to desist from all forms of abuse, intimidation and harassment, particularly in matters relating to inheritance and property rights, and warned that appropriate sanctions would be imposed on any individual, community or religious organisation found culpable. The Obele Women Empowerment Foundation, an advocacy group in the state, has also been pushing for gender equality in inheritance, insisting that girl children have the right to inherit property in Igboland. A Senior Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Internally Generated Revenue, Mrs Oyeka, has been associated with the group's advocacy, saying the group would champion a world where women get inheritance from their parents in Igboland.
The Attorney-General's letter is the latest and most concrete step in that direction. By explicitly stating that denial of female inheritance is a crime and by designating a specialised unit to prosecute offenders, the Anambra State Government has sent a clear message that it is prepared to use the full weight of the law to protect women's property rights. The decision to route complaints through the police and the Ministry of Justice also provides a structured process for victims to seek redress. However, the success of the initiative will depend on the willingness of police officers to investigate complaints thoroughly, the capacity of the SGBV Unit to prosecute cases effectively, and the willingness of communities to cooperate with investigations that challenge long-standing customary practices. For women and girls in Anambra who have been denied their inheritance, the letter represents a promise of justice. Whether that promise is fulfilled will be determined by the actions that follow.
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