The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is set to consider a controversial bill that seeks to criminalise sexual relationships between married men and unmarried women.
The proposed legislation was disclosed on Monday by a legal practitioner, Obiavel Albert Abigo, via a post on Facebook. According to him, the bill is sponsored by the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akon Inyang.
Under the proposed law, any girl or woman who engages in a sexual relationship with a married man would be deemed to have committed an offence under state law. Upon conviction, such a woman would face a mandatory 10-year prison sentence without the option of a fine.
In contrast, the married man involved in the relationship would not face imprisonment but would be liable to pay a fine of ₦2 million.
Abigo stated that the bill explicitly provides that “any woman found guilty of engaging in a sexual relationship with a married man shall be sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.”
He further disclosed that the bill is expected to be presented for consideration during the House’s plenary session on Tuesday and could be passed into law if approved by lawmakers.
The proposed legislation has sparked widespread debate, with concerns being raised over its fairness, enforceability, and apparent gender imbalance. Many Nigerians have called for broader public engagement and deeper legislative scrutiny before any final decision is taken.
