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The Akwa Ibom Adultery Law debate is raising serious questions about gender equality, justice, and constitutional rights.

‎Obgist have been drawn to this Public discussion surrounding the Akwa Ibom Adultery Law, following claims of unequal punishment for parties involved in extramarital affairs.

‎Akwa Ibom law makers is proposing a law that a single woman accused of having an affair with a married man could face up to 10 years in prison without bail, while the married man may only be required to pay a ₦2 million fine, with no jail sentence.

‎Although the details remain contested, the alleged imbalance has sparked nationwide debate. What do you think about this law?

‎The controversy goes beyond morality. Critics argue that such a legal arrangement, if enforced, would amount to gender-based discrimination, which is prohibited under Section 42 of the Nigerian Constitution.

‎Legal analysts say punishment that heavily targets one gender undermines the principle of equal treatment before the law. Many Nigerians also see the disparity as a troubling signal for justice reform.

‎Recent social opinion surveys suggest that a large majority of citizens oppose laws that punish women more harshly than men for the same offence.

‎In many Nigerian states, adultery is not treated as a criminal offence. Under the Matrimonial Causes Act, adultery is primarily a civil issue and serves as grounds for divorce, not long-term imprisonment.

‎This distinction is critical, as no widely applicable statute currently prescribes a decade-long jail term for adultery in most high court jurisdictions.

‎Supporters of strict morality laws often argue they are designed to protect marriage and discourage infidelity.

‎However, critics point out that punishing one party with prison while allowing the other to pay a fine creates what they describe as a justice gap, where wealth determines consequences.

‎Legal scholars are seeing it as unequal and as such they believe it will rarely survive constitutional review and will face strong public resistance.

‎The debate around the Akwa Ibom Adultery Law highlights a broader question: should the legal system enforce personal morality, and if it does, should penalties apply equally to all involved? Lets know what you think about this discussion.

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