Anambra State's Attorney General, Tobe Nweke SAN, has formally directed the Nigerian Police to investigate complaints from women denied property inheritance and transmit case files to his office for prosecution. The directive, contained in a letter personally signed by Nweke and shared with journalists on Monday, September 26, 2026, marks a significant legal intervention to criminalize the denial of female inheritance rights in the state.
The announcement was made public through Anambra State Media via X on September 29, 2026, confirming that denying women and girls the right to inherit property is now a criminal offence punishable by up to four years imprisonment.
Legal Basis for Prosecution
The Attorney General's letter cited Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017 of Anambra State as the legal foundation for prosecution. Under this provision, withholding inheritance rights from women or girls solely on account of their gender constitutes a criminal act, carrying a maximum penalty of four years in prison.
Nweke described the practice as "obnoxious," signaling a firm stance by the state government against what has long been a common but largely unchallenged cultural tradition in many parts of south-east Nigeria.
Police Directive and Legal Pathway
The letter instructed the Nigerian Police to receive complaints from affected women, carry out thorough investigations, and transmit completed case files directly to the Attorney General's office for prosecution. This formal 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 announcement represents one of the most direct interventions by Anambra's legal authority on the issue of female inheritance, bringing criminal law to bear on a practice rooted in customary norms.
Broader Context and Previous Reports
The development comes amid ongoing discussions about governance and financial management in Anambra State. Legit.ng earlier reported that Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, pushed back against claims by the Anambra State Government that his administration left behind external debt obligations of $123.77 million, saying the funds he kept in the state more than covered any such figure.
The Attorney General's directive is expected to empower women across Anambra State to seek legal redress against inheritance discrimination, with the Nigerian Police now mandated to act on complaints and forward cases for prosecution.
