UNICAL Professor Remanded in Kuje Prison Over Harassment Charges

• The Federal High Court in Abuja remanded Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended UNICAL Law Faculty Dean, facing sexual harassment charges
• Ndifon pleaded not guilty to four charges, including soliciting explicit content from female students, and awaits further legal proceedings

The Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the remand of Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), who faces charges of alleged sexual harassment.

Facing prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ndifon pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge before Justice James Omotosho.

The ICPC, through its counsel, Ebenezer Shogunle, filed the charges marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/511/23 on October 30, 2023, detailing disturbing allegations against Ndifon.

Allegations

1. In the first count, Ndifon is accused of using his office to solicit nude photographs and videos from a year 2 Diploma female student of the university through WhatsApp chats, a violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
2. The second count involves corruptly requesting explicit content from a 400-level female student to influence her project supervisor assignment for favourable grades, a breach of Section 8(1)(a) (il) of the agency’s Act.
3. In the third count, Ndifon is alleged to have corruptly sought photographs of a 16-year-old prospective post-UTME female student as an inducement for admission into the Faculty of Law, violating Section 18(d) of the Act.
4. The fourth count accuses him of causing a female student to send explicit photographs through WhatsApp, a violation of Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition & Prevention) Act, 2015.

These alleged offenses were committed while Ndifon held the position of a public officer responsible for certifying students’ fitness for learning and character, prerequisites for a Bachelor’s degree in Law and admission into the Nigerian Law School.

Legal Proceedings

Upon reading the charges, Ndifon pleaded not guilty. His counsel, Okon Efut (SAN), presented a bail application on January 2, emphasizing health grounds, stating that Ndifon was scheduled for eye surgery due to glaucoma on January 11.

ICPC lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, opposed the bail application, citing an alleged threat made by one of Ndifon’s counsels to the commission’s witness.

Justice Omotosho, considering the circumstances, ordered Ndifon’s remand in Kuje prison and adjourned the matter until January 10. This adjournment allows time for the bail application hearing and for Ndifon’s counsel to file an affidavit of facts in response to the allegations.