A proposed bill before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has triggered widespread controversy after details emerged that it targets unmarried women involved in intimate relationships with married men, prescribing significantly harsher penalties for women than for their male counterparts.
The draft legislation, revealed by legal practitioner Obiavel Albert Abigo in a Facebook post on Monday, is reportedly sponsored by the state’s Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Inyang. According to Abigo, the bill seeks to criminalise any sexual relationship between an unmarried woman and a legally married man, regardless of the woman’s age or circumstances.
“If passed, the bill will make it an offence for any unmarried woman to have a sexual relationship with a married man,” Abigo wrote. “The woman faces a mandatory 10-year prison sentence without the option of a fine, while the married man would only be required to pay a ₦2 million fine.”
The disparity in punishment has drawn sharp criticism, with many observers describing the proposal as discriminatory and legally questionable. Critics argue that the bill places the burden of moral responsibility almost entirely on women while allowing married men to evade custodial punishment.
Abigo further disclosed that the bill is expected to be presented at the Assembly’s plenary session scheduled for Tuesday, raising concerns among civil society groups and legal experts about the speed with which it could advance through the legislative process.
“This kind of legislation raises serious constitutional and human rights questions,” a legal analyst told reporters. “Beyond enforcement challenges, it risks institutionalising gender inequality under the guise of morality.”
Since the revelation, the proposal has sparked intense debate on social media and in public discourse, with many Nigerians calling on lawmakers to halt the process and open the bill to extensive public consultation.
Advocacy groups have urged the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to prioritise inclusive dialogue and legal scrutiny, warning that any law perceived as one-sided or unjust could face stiff resistance and legal challenges if enacted.