The Anambra State Government has begun moves to prosecute people who deny women and girls the right to inherit property because of their gender.
The Attorney General of Anambra State, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has asked the Nigerian Police to investigate such complaints and send the case files to his office for prosecution.
This was disclosed in a letter personally signed by the Attorney General and made available to journalists on September 26, 2026.
The letter stated that denying women and girls the right to inherit property because they are female is a crime under Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017 of Anambra State, and is punishable by up to four years in prison.
The letter further stated:
«“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.»
«“To effectively combat this practice, this Ministry has designated the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Unit to handle the prosecution of offenders under the above-mentioned law, alongside other forms of domestic violence and sexual offences.”»
The move comes despite previous Supreme Court decisions declaring customs and practices that prevent females from inheriting property unconstitutional and illegal.
