There are considerable variations in the pattern of inheritance. At Okpe the eldest son takes all the property, with obligation to provide wives for his brothers. Failing sons, a daughter inherits and, in. the case of a childless man, his brothers. Widows who have borne children go free.
At Somorika, while the senior son takes the first and largest share, the rest divide the remainder of the property equally, and they may agree to give something to their father’s brothers. The latter are the heirs of a man without sons, “the next heirs are the father and mother(?); then the gravediggers and the mother’s family “.
At Ibillo, on the other hand, the senior son takes the largest share and other Sons and daughters share equally. The deceased’s brother has the right to receive the marriage-payment for his daughters, though he must share it with the “family”. If one of the sons is dead his brothers and descendants inherit “by families”.
At Ososo the inheritance pattern is apparently more unusual. The eldest child, male or female is said to take the house and half the movable property, the other half going to “own brothers” of the deceased. “The goats and some of the cows and half the farm go to the child; oil palms bought by the deceased go to the brother; those inherited are divided. The same rule applies to bought and inherited land; it should be noted that the son takes all the land if the own brother is dead but has left children and if one of the Sons is dead, the inheritance goes to the other sons and to his children per capita i.e equally.” Debts are payable by the brother of the deceased
At Somorika a posthumous child takes a share of the property over which the mother is made guardian. She cannot, however, be called to account for it.
