Akwa Ibom Assembly to Criminalize Affairs with Married Men

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is set to consider a controversial bill that would criminalize sexual relationships between unmarried women and married men, with lawmakers expected to take a final decision on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The bill was initiated by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Inyang, and is poised to become law if approved.

Under the proposed legislation, an unmarried woman found to have engaged in such a relationship would face a mandatory ten-year jail term, with no option of paying a fine. The bill classifies the offence broadly to cover women of all adult age categories.

The married man involved would not face imprisonment but would instead be liable to a fine of two million naira. This difference in penalties has already drawn attention to the bill’s legal and social implications.

If passed, the law would mark one of the most far-reaching state-level interventions into private relationships in Nigeria, setting the stage for debate over morality, gender balance, and the limits of legislative authority.