The Akwa Ibom House of Assembly has dismissed as false and misleading, a viral social media report alleging plans to pass a bill criminalising sexual relationships with married men.

The rebuttal is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Uyo and signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Jerry Otu.

Otu, in the statement, described the report circulating widely on social media as a “fabrication with no legislative basis”.

According to him, the claim, reportedly shared via a Facebook post by one Obiavel Albert Abigo, alleged that a bill sponsored by the Deputy Governor, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, sought to impose a 10-year jail term on women involved in such relationships, while prescribing a ?2 million fine for men.

“The attention of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has been drawn to a fabricated report circulating on social media, alleging that the House is set to pass a bill criminalising sexual relationships with married 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.

“We condemn this malicious attempt to tarnish the image of the Deputy Governor and the Assembly, and urge the public to disregard this fake news and any associated commentaries,” Otu said

The chairman, house committee on information, added that the House was committed to its constitutional role of law making, and would not be swayed by mischievous attempts to undermine its integrity. (NAN)