The Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, Mr Elvert Ayambem, has declared the organizers of a gay party in Calabar wanted for promoting homosexuality in the state, in contravention of extant laws.
A release signed by Ayambem’s Press Secretary, Mr. Mathew Okache, made available to newsmen in on Monday revealed that the Speaker had already initiated contact with relevant security agencies and stakeholders.
Okache said that the organizers were declared wanted for allegedly promoting, sponsoring and taking part in homosexual activities contrary to the Federal Government of Nigeria’s same-sex marriage prohibition Act 2013, which was signed into law in 2014 and further assented by the Cross River Assembly.
He said that in June 2023, a gay party was organized at a prominent hotel in Calabar, with many teenagers attending, adding that the Speaker’s unwavering stance against homosexuality reflects the prevailing sentiment in Cross River, where the practice is deemed illegal.
“It has come to the notice of the Hon. Speaker of the Cross River State House Of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, that on the 30th of June 2023, a certain hotel in Ekorinim, Calabar Municipality, hosted a gay party in their premises
where under age teenagers were also in attendance.
“Already, the speaker has reached out to security agencies in the State and relevant government MDAs to ensure that organizers of that obscenity and their collaborators are brought to book as a deterrence.
” We seize this occasion to warn anyone or any organization in connection with such unlawful activities to desist from such acts or risk prosecution by the authorities, as former President Goodluck Jonathan, on the 7th of January 2014, signed the “Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill” into law.
“The law imposes a 10-year prison sentence on those who ‘directly or indirectly make public show of same-sex amorous relationships’ and anyone who registers, operates, or participates in gay clubs, societies, and organizations, including supporters of those groups,” he stated.
He further reminded hospitality operators in the State that no hotel or club should entertain anyone under 18 years of age at any time, unless they are accompanied by their parents/and or guardians.
A source however told our correspondent that the Country Director of Debate and Development Resource Centre (DEDERC), Mr Jerry Nwigwe, was allegedly fingered in the sponsorship of the party and is currently at large.
The source, who pleaded anonymous, said that an undisclosed police investigation had already begun with the mandate to arrest Nwigwe as a suspect and others involved in organizing the party.
“ A secret investigation is underway and Nwigwe was alleged to have engaged in sponsoring and promoting homosexual practices in Nigeria through his organization as some of the apprehended participants at the gay party confessed to after their arrest as working as volunteers to the organization “, the source said.
