The Anambra State Government has begun moves to prosecute people who deny women and girls their inheritance rights.
The state Attorney-General, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, directed the police to investigate reported cases. He also asked the police to forward case files to his office for prosecution.
The move targets discriminatory practices that prevent women from inheriting property because of their gender. 
Anambra Moves Against Discriminatory Inheritance Rights Practices
Nweke disclosed the development in a letter addressed to the Nigeria Police Force. The letter, personally signed by the Attorney-General, was made available to journalists.
According to the letter, gender-based disinheritance amounts to a criminal offence under state law. It cited Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017.
The offence carries a punishment of up to four years in prison.
Police to Investigate Inheritance Rights Complaints
The Attorney-General urged the police to thoroughly investigate all reported cases. He also directed them to forward relevant case files to his ministry. This, he said, would allow the government to take appropriate legal action against alleged offenders.
“To effectively combat this practice, this Ministry has designated the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit,” the letter stated.
The unit will handle prosecutions under the law alongside other domestic violence cases.
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Supreme Court Rulings Already Protect Women
The development comes despite previous Supreme Court decisions on women’s inheritance rights. The court has declared customs excluding women from inheriting property unconstitutional and illegal, Daily Post reports.
However, the state government said some people still engage in the practice. Several women and girls have reportedly faced difficulties accessing property left by their parents.
Such disputes have often been linked to traditional customs and practices in parts of the Southeast.
Government Steps Up Legal Action
The Anambra government is now seeking stronger enforcement of existing legal protections. The Attorney-General’s directive gives the police a clear role in investigating reported cases. It also creates a dedicated prosecutorial channel through the SGBV Unit.
The government hopes the move will discourage practices that deny women their lawful inheritance. It also signals a stronger approach to enforcing women’s property rights across the state.
For affected women and girls, the development could provide another avenue for seeking legal redress.
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