Do Tiv men offer their wives to sexually please guests? No, declares the court
Although she later apologised, back in September 2023, it was former Big Brother Naija All-Stars housemate, Venita Akpofure who made comments claiming that the Tivs give out their wives as a token to guests.
If anyone had started to believe that Tiv men truly indeed would consider giving out their wives to sexually please a guest, a high court ruling given on Tuesday would make them snap out of such a belief in no time.
Back in September 2023, it was former Big Brother Naija All-Stars housemate, Venita Akpofure who made comments that gave rise to the notion. The TV star had told her fellow contestants during the live show that Tiv men give their wives to visitors for entertainment purposes.
Even though she later apologised for her comment following her eviction from the show, the Mzough U Tiv cultural group representing the entire Tiv nation insisted that there was going to be a correction through litigation.
But a suit seeking redress filed in November 2023 was not directed to Miss Akpofure who made the erroneous suggestion about Tiv men, it was the tribe’s council that got sued.
The reason the Tiv Area Traditional Council (TATC) got sued was simply because of their slow response in defending the integrity of their tribe when a foul statement had been made about their culture.
And so after weeks of hearing, the High Court of Benue State in Makurdi through the Chief Judge of Benue State, Maurice Ikpambese determined that the Tiv native law and custom does not support offering one’s wife to his visitor for sexual pleasure.
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The chief judge also granted the complainant’s request asking for an order that compels TATC to arrange for a supreme council meeting aimed at issuing a declaration supporting the court’s declarative verdict.
Before the anticipated judgment landed came the Mzough U lead counsel, Sabastine Hon (SAN) making a case about his client’s contention, which he pictured as wholesale embarrassment brought on the Tiv people.
There can’t be collective defamation because we don’t have a cause of action to say that your tribe has been defamed.
If we have a determination now, then someday, trace any Tiv man character anywhere, this judgment will be binding on him worldwide and it can be used to sue any individual who goes against it.
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
