Abstract:
The aim of the research paper is to appraise heritable property and the pattern of inheritance of such property by special persons such as minor, women, wife, illegitimate children, adopted/guardian (step) children and strangers under the patrilineal and matrilineal Customary Law system of Inheritance between the Efik and Qua ethnic groups. This paper further provides a useful insight as to the classification of heritable property into special properties, immovable and movable in a bid to highlight the specific features associated with heritable properties under the Efik and Qua Customary Law. Furthermore, a brief examination of the pattern of distribution of family and communal property is also highlighted in this work. In the concluding section, a critique of specific rights of inheritance among Efik and Qua Communities was attempted with recommendations proffered for reforms of the extant Customary Law of Inheritance.
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