The Anambra government has threatened to imprison anyone who refuses to inherit property for women and girls

The Anambra State Government has threatened to prosecute and imprison individuals or groups who deny women or girls the right to inherit property based on gender.

The government says such people risk being jailed for up to four years.

The State Attorney General, Mr Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, warned of this in a detailed letter to the Nigerian Police and given to journalists in Awka.

Nweke directed the police to conduct thorough investigations into reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and then prosecute the violators.

He described the practice of disinheritance of women as an offense under Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2017 in Anambra.

The Attorney General urged police to investigate all reported cases and forward case files to his office for prosecution.

He said that even though the Supreme Court decision declared customs and practices that excluded women from inheriting property unconstitutional and illegal, some members of society still carried out these discriminatory practices.

“In view of the above, you are requested to ensure that your office thoroughly investigates all reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and that case files are sent to this ministry for further action,” Nweke said.

He said that the government had appointed a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit to handle the prosecution of perpetrators under the law, in addition to other forms of domestic violence and sexual offences.