₦airaland Forum

It is a painful reality in Nigeria: A woman mourns her husband, and before the burial is even over, the in-laws have started sharing his property.

Here is the bitter truth: If you married ONLY under Native or Customary Law, ordinarily, you are not legally entitled to inherit your late husband's property. In fact, some customary laws view the wife as part of the property to be inherited by his family. The Administration of Estate Law that protects court marriages does not cover you.

But wait! Don't lose hope. Nigerian law is tricky, and there are some technicalities that smart widows are using to jump these obstacles and protect their children’s future.

Here is the legal "expo" on how to stop greedy family members in their tracks:

TACTIC 1: FILE A CAVEAT & CALL THE GOVERNMENT If the family starts dragging property, immediately file something called a CAVEAT at the court's Probate Division. This is a legal "STOP WORK" order. It prevents them from getting a Letter of Administration to touch his assets.

Once blocked, don't ask to inherit (customary law will block you). Instead, apply for the court to appoint the Administrator-General (AG)—a neutral government official—to manage the property specifically for the sake of your CHILDREN, who are the rightful heirs. The AG prevents the family from squandering the assets see the case of Akunnubi V. Akunnubi.

TACTIC 2: FORCE YOUR WAY IN AS CO-ADMINISTRATOR You have a right to ensure your husband's assets aren't wasted. Apply to the court to be made a Co-Administrator alongside the family. This means they can't sell or touch anything without your involvement. You become the watchdog to ensure your children are provided for see the case of Emokpae V. Idubor.

NIGERIAN WOMEN, WAKE UP! Do not let ignorance rob your children. You might not be able to inherit directly under native law, but you can use the law to manage and protect the assets for your kids.

SAVE this post. SHARE it with every married woman you know. Knowledge is your best defense.

Naijalegal:
It is a painful reality in Nigeria: A woman mourns her husband, and before the burial is even over, the in-laws have started sharing his property.

Here is the bitter truth: If you married ONLY under Native or Customary Law, ordinarily, you are not legally entitled to inherit your late husband's property. In fact, some customary laws view the wife as part of the property to be inherited by his family. The Administration of Estate Law that protects court marriages does not cover you.

But wait! Don't lose hope. Nigerian law is tricky, and there are some technicalities that smart widows are using to jump these obstacles and protect their children’s future.

Here is the legal "expo" on how to stop greedy family members in their tracks:

TACTIC 1: FILE A CAVEAT & CALL THE GOVERNMENT If the family starts dragging property, immediately file something called a CAVEAT at the court's Probate Division. This is a legal "STOP WORK" order. It prevents them from getting a Letter of Administration to touch his assets.

Once blocked, don't ask to inherit (customary law will block you). Instead, apply for the court to appoint the Administrator-General (AG)—a neutral government official—to manage the property specifically for the sake of your CHILDREN, who are the rightful heirs. The AG prevents the family from squandering the assets see the case of Akunnubi V. Akunnubi.

TACTIC 2: FORCE YOUR WAY IN AS CO-ADMINISTRATOR You have a right to ensure your husband's assets aren't wasted. Apply to the court to be made a Co-Administrator alongside the family. This means they can't sell or touch anything without your involvement. You become the watchdog to ensure your children are provided for see the case of Emokpae V. Idubor.

NIGERIAN WOMEN, WAKE UP! Do not let ignorance rob your children. You might not be able to inherit directly under native law, but you can use the law to manage and protect the assets for your kids.

SAVE this post. SHARE it with every married woman you know. Knowledge is your best defense.

Are you truly a Lawyer?

Because I have been reading your posts and you say things no Lawyer will ever say.

And now clearly you show you are not one for this post can never be written by a Lawyer.

For no Lawyer will say a person married under customary law can not inherit her husband's property?

They can and do and every Lawyer knows that the Administration of Estates Law does not discriminate.

I have obtained several Letters of Administration for people customarily married and here you are telling them they can not do so but they can get AG to manage their own property.

You better stop posing as a Lawyer before you get yourself arrested!

FayaBall:
Are you truly a Lawyer?

Because I have been reading your posts and you say things no Lawyer will ever say.

And now clearly you show you are not one for this post can never be written by a Lawyer.

For no Lawyer will say a person married under customary law can not inherit her husband's property?

They can and do and every Lawyer knows that the Administration of Estates Law does not discriminate.

I have obtained several Letters of Administration for people customarily married and here you are telling them they can not do so but they can get AG to manage their own property.

You better stop posing as a Lawyer before you get yourself arrested!

They call it "rage bait". It even made word of the year.