A LAW TO PROVIDE FOR THE RIGHT OF A FEMALE PERSON TO OWN AND TO INHERIT PROPERTY CROSS RIVER STATE

What Is This Policy?

This Cross River State law guarantees every female person the legal right to own, hold, and inherit property in her own name, regardless of marital status, local custom, or tradition.

Who Does It Target?

All female residents of Cross River State Widows and female heirs in property inheritance disputes Legal practitioners, judges, and courts handling property matters involving women in Cross River State

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

To abolish customary and traditional practices that historically denied women the right to own or inherit property, giving all women in Cross River State equal property rights enforceable before the law.

Key Features

Right to Own Property: Grants every woman the full legal right to hold real and personal property independently in her own name Inheritance Rights: Ensures women can inherit property from deceased parents, spouses, or any other family member Override of Customs: Expressly overrides any customary rule or tradition that would otherwise prevent a woman from owning or inheriting property Court Enforcement: Provides a clear statutory basis for women to seek enforcement of their property rights before Cross River State courts Protection from Dispossession: Makes it unlawful for any person to forcibly dispossess a woman of property she has lawfully acquired or inherited

Current Status

Rollout Stage: In force across Cross River State Coverage: Cross River State Beneficiaries to Date: All female residents of Cross River State Funding: Cross River State Government budget

How to Access

Women in Cross River State can assert their property rights under this law through the courts or relevant land registry. Documentary evidence of ownership or entitlement to inherit the property in question Application to the relevant land registry or court where the right is disputed or needs formal recognition Application method: Cross River State Ministry of Justice, state high courts, or local government legal aid offices in Calabar and other divisions

Official Resources

Website: www.crossriverstate.gov.ng

Legal Framework

Enacted by Cross River State House of Assembly under the residual legislative powers of states vested by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Draws on Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution (freedom from discrimination) and the Land Use Act 1978 as applied at state level. Aligns with Nigeria's obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Maputo Protocol, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.