Ebonyi State: Human Rights Commission Frowns At Denial Of Widows Access To Their Deceased Husbands’ Assets

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has expressed concern over the increase in gender discrimination and denial of inheritance against women and girls in some parts of South East, Nigeria particularly Ebonyi state where the Commission heard and concluded several cases involving gender violence a couple of days ago.

The representative of the Executive Secretary at Special Investigation Panel on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) which was set up by the NHRC, Mr. Abdulrahman Yakubu stated this in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state during a two-day public hearing of 12 complaints of SGBV in the state.

Yakubu who chaired the panel in Ebonyi state on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu Esq. expressed worry over the various revelations and testimonies of women who for no just cause are denied access to their late husband’s properties in the community.

The Executive Secretary’s representative who is also the Director Civil and Political Rights department in the Commission while conducting one of the cases involving a widow and her only daughter who was allegedly being denied access to her late husband properties by the deceased first son said that a woman by law should partake in sharing properties of her late husband with other biological/legal members of the family in question.

The renowned lawyer and human rights advocate also condemned the practice where any member of a family including the first son assume the responsibility of administering properties when the Head of the family dies, without obtaining the necessary authorisation from the relevant government authorities.

According to him, discriminatory practices and denial of inheritance contravenes the Constitution of Nigeria as well as relevant regional and international treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory and therefore cannot be allowed.