A human rights group, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), has petitioned the Commissioner, Gender Affairs and Social Development in Enugu State, seeking intervention in an alleged move by some people to deny two female children the right to inherit their late mother’s property in the state.
In the petition signed by its president, Olu Omotayo, the group insisted that it is unconstitutional and grave injustice to say that children cannot inherit their mothers’ property just because they are females.
Omatayo disclosed that the victims, Mrs. Obiageli Stella Okoli, a Lagos based journalist and her younger sister Obianuju Caroline Ejimba, were threatened by the brothers of their late mother, Mrs Victoria Udeh to vacate the home of their deceased mother on the ground that females do not have inheritance rights under Igbo custom.
The human rights lawyer stated that Mrs. Okoli, informed them her late mother Mrs. Victoria Udeh, died on the 2nd August 2023, but before her demise she resided at Ifelodun Street, Ejigbo, Lagos, adding that the deceased who died intestate owned 5 plots of land at Mile 2, Area of Oji River, Enugu State.
Omatayo added that the deceased also owned a bungalow at her home town at Ifikwe Achi, Oji River local government of Enugu State, adding that Mrs. Okoli said immediately after the burial of her late mother in December 2023, the three brothers of Late Mrs. Victoria Udeh started threatening Mrs. Okoli and her junior sister to vacate their mother’s home solely on ground the two female children of the deceased have no right of inheritance under Igbo custom.
“Mrs. Okoli, further stated that they came with some people and wanted to beat her and her sister up in a bid to throw them out of the property. Mrs. Okoli said she had to call the DPO Oji River Police Station who asked the Chairman of the Village Vigilante, to ensure that no harm befall her and her sister.
“The DPO thereafter invited them to the Police Station and let them know that it was not proper for them to throw the children of the deceased out of their mother’s property only because they are females” he stated.
Omatayo, therefore, urged that the victimisation, harassment and threat to the life of the females should be stopped forthwith.
He appealed to the commissioner to ensure that Mrs. Okoli and her sister received justice as the circumstances of the case demanded.
“There is no law in Nigeria that says upon the demise of a woman her properties automatically become family property and therefore the female children must be forcefully removed from the properties,” he stated.
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