Female inheritance: Court orders A-Ibom man to pay nieces N20m

By Chioma Onuegbu

Uyo —Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has ordered one Mr. Sampson Udoh, an indigene of Itiam Etoi in Uyo Local Government Area of the state to pay N20 million to two of his nieces for breaching their fundamental rights.

The court made the order in its judgment, yesterday, in a suit by Sampson Udoh, seeking enforcement of his application to stop his nieces from inheriting their late father’s property.

Respondents in the suit were Mrs. Bakabasi James, Miss Ndantiabasi Silas and Mr. Williams Ubetem, Investigating Police Officer (IPO) attached to the state Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia and the state Commissioner of Police.

The court noted that the main contention of the applicant was that his nieces, being female children of his late elder brother, Mr. Isaac Udoh, should not inherit their father’s property because they are women.

The court noted that the women said their late father built his house between 1976 and 1980 and that they’ve lived in their father’s house from birth till date without any problem, until they attempted to appropriate the inheritance and their uncle unleashed mayhem on them.

Justice Ntong Ntong in the judgment, described the applicant’s action as obnoxious and repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience.

The court said: “The maltreatment is opprobrium, offensive and unconstitutional.”
The court held that it was high time paramount rulers, clan heads, village heads and community leaders in Akwa Ibom State came to terms with the facts that female children have equal stake with their male counterparts to inherit their parents property.

The court held: “The first and second respondents acquired their father’s property at Isaac Silas Obot’s compound, Nung Udoetok Ibom Adia Abasi of Itiam Etoi, Uyo, a fact contained in exhibits canvassed in their counter affidavit in the minutes of the peace meeting and property sharing agreement of Udoetok Ibom Adia Abasi Family, dated January 11, 2019.

“The applicant cannot be allowed to take advantage of the vulnerability of his nieces just because they were born girls and women into their family.

“From the totality of credible evidence before the court, the Police and other respondents did not and are not likely to encroach or infringe upon the rights of the applicant.


“Instead, it was the applicant that infringed upon the fundamental rights of his nieces, with impunity, which cannot be allowed to stand.

“The application for the enforcement of the applicant’s fundamental rights has failed woefully in its entirety and dismissed same with cost of total sum of N20.1 million, payable to the 1st and 2nd respondents at N10.05 million each.”

FreeStuffsNG:

The court noted that the main contention of the applicant was that his nieces, being female children of his late elder brother, Mr. Isaac Udoh, should not inherit their father’s property because they are women.

The court noted that the women said their late father built his house between 1976 and 1980 and that they’ve lived in their father’s house from birth till date without any problem, until they attempted to appropriate the inheritance and their uncle unleashed mayhem on them.

Bluntguy:
Akwa Ibom and wickedness to women and young girls be like 5&6

Bluntguy:
Akwa Ibom and wickedness to women and young girls be like 5&6

FreeStuffsNG:

Some years ago, I was shocked when one very lovely lady from Akwa Ibom lamented how their culture compels the female children to contribute more for their father's burial yet forbidden from inheritance. She was close to tears that day because she was away from work here in Lagos for 2 weeks, travelled to her village in Akwa Ibom and had to empty her savings for her father's burial. Till date, I still remember her pain on such unfair practice in her culture. She was very close to cursing her brothers and her culture that day.

All these kind of injustice need to stop. These female children do not deserve to be cheated like this and I am happy that a court has come to their rescue. Iniebe Effiong forming human rights lawyer in Lagos is from this state o but I have never read of where he championed campaign against such injustice. The current Senate President is from there too yet no law is against such obnoxious cultural practices.

This Judge is taking the lead to redress this injustice but the state assembly needs to still make law to punish people like this uncle who was about to take the property away from his nieces because they are females.

In the absence of real laws to stop this kind of unfair cultural prejudices against the female child, my advice to ladies not from places like Akwa Ibom is that you should shine your eyes before love carries you to Akwa Ibom and you receive the shock of your life that your female children are inferior and forbidden from inheriting what you and your husband slaved for to pass on as inheritance. Love is sweet but in marriage,love is not all that marriage entails o. Understand the culture of who you want to tie up your lifetime with. Abo oro la nso fun Omoluabi........