A’Ibom govt dismisses fake adultery bill, clears deputy governor

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed as false reports alleging that the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, sponsored an adultery bill before the State House of Assembly.

Some online platforms had claimed that the Assembly passed a bill criminalising sexual relationships with married men, purportedly sponsored by the Deputy Governor. The state government, however, described the report as misleading and without factual basis.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, the government said Senator Eyakenyi neither sponsored such a bill nor had any knowledge of it, describing the report as the handiwork of purveyors of fake news bent on distorting facts for personal or political gain.

“The Government of Akwa Ibom State wishes to address a false social media claim alleging that Her Excellency, Senator (Dr.) Akon Eyakenyi, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, sponsored a bill before the State House of Assembly. This claim is entirely false, misleading, and without any factual basis,” the statement read.

Umanah explained that as a member of the State Executive Council, the Deputy Governor does not have the constitutional mandate to independently sponsor bills in the House of Assembly. He noted that any executive bill must first be considered and approved by the Executive Council before being transmitted to the legislature.

He added that the purported bill did not emanate from any official channel of either the executive or legislative arm of government and should therefore be disregarded.

While reaffirming the state government’s opposition to immoral conduct contrary to Christian principles, Umanah warned those spreading falsehoods to desist from linking the Deputy Governor to baseless and unverifiable claims. He urged the public to rely only on official and verified government sources for accurate information.

Similarly, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has denied reports that it passed the said bill, describing it as a fabricated Facebook post attributed to one Obiavel Albert Abigo.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Jerry Anson Otu, the Assembly refuted claims that a bill sponsored by the Deputy Governor prescribed a 10-year jail term for women involved in sexual relationships with married men, while imposing a N2 million fine on men.

“The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly wishes to categorically state that this report is entirely false and has no basis in fact. The Assembly has not received or considered any such bill, and the Deputy Governor has not sponsored it,” Otu said.

He condemned what he described as a malicious attempt to tarnish the image of the Deputy Governor and the Assembly, urging the public to disregard the fake report and related commentaries.

Otu reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to its constitutional law-making role, stressing that it would not be distracted by mischievous attempts to undermine its integrity.