Nigerian Supreme Court Confirms Daughters' Inheritance Rights, But Traditional Practices Persist
Nigerian lawyer and gender rights activist Mrs Eunice Onuabuchi has emphasized the equal inheritance rights of daughters, following a Supreme Court ruling in Ukeje v. Ukeje. Despite this, traditional practices in Igboland often exclude women from inheriting property.
The Supreme Court's decision confirmed that female children cannot be denied inheritance based on gender. However, cultural norms and socioeconomic challenges in South East Nigeria continue to limit women's inheritance rights. Recently, four daughters were forcefully evicted from their late father's home due to the absence of male children.
Mrs Onuabuchi urges women, legal practitioners, and civil society organizations to challenge these inequalities. She calls for action to break the silence that sustains discrimination against women in inheritance. Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantees freedom from discrimination in inheritance rights, but many women remain unaware of their legal entitlements and continue to suffer abuse and disinheritance in silence.
Mrs Onuabuchi's advocacy underscores the need for greater awareness and enforcement of women's inheritance rights in Nigeria. Despite legal protections, cultural practices and lack of awareness persist as barriers to equality.
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