A prominent non-governmental organisation has stepped into a contentious property dispute in Abia State, championing the cause of two sisters against a practice it labels unlawful and discriminatory.
NGO Takes Stand Against Female Disinheritance
The Women and Orphans Rights to Family Assets Foundation (WORFAF) has publicly thrown its weight behind Kelechi and Chinwendu Okorie from Eluama Uzuakoli in Bende Local Council. The group is demanding the immediate vacation of occupants from the late parents' property of the sisters, which is currently under dispute.
In a statement released on 31 December 2025, WORFAF condemned the situation as a clear case of female disinheritance. The organisation asserted that this deep-rooted custom illegally strips women of their constitutional right to family property, a problem notably persistent in parts of South-East Nigeria.
Constitutional Rights Override Customary Practices
Nwadi Elobuike, the Executive Director of WORFAF, explained that the intervention was necessary because the actions against the Okorie sisters violate established legal precedents and fundamental human rights.
"The continued occupation of the late Mr and Mrs Okorie’s property by persons who have no legal entitlement, to the exclusion of their biological daughters, is not only unjust but patently unlawful," Elobuike stated.
She emphasised that Nigerian superior courts have consistently invalidated customary practices aimed at disinheriting women. "No tradition, no matter how long-standing, can override the Constitution," she declared.
Elobuike specifically referenced landmark Supreme Court judgments, including Ukeje v. Ukeje and Mojekwu v. Mojekwu, which firmly established that female children have the right to inherit their parents' estate. She warned that communities ignoring these rulings are acting in defiance of the law.
Call for Action and Resolution
WORFAF firmly stated that Kelechi and Chinwendu Okorie, as the surviving children, are the lawful heirs to the property. The organisation insists they are entitled to peaceful possession free from intimidation, obstruction, or cultural bias.
"WORFAF fully endorses the sisters’ demand for the immediate vacation of all illegal occupants from their parents’ property. We call on community leaders, traditional institutions and relevant authorities in Eluama Uzuakoli to ensure that justice is done without delay," Elobuike urged.
The group cautioned that failure to resolve the matter amicably and lawfully could heighten tensions and further perpetuate injustice against women. It noted that silence or inaction by community authorities often empowers those who carry out disinheritance.
Finally, WORFAF appealed to the Abia State Government and various human rights bodies to remain vigilant and proactive in shielding women and orphans from property-related abuses.
