By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed November 17 for judgment in the sexual harassment case involving the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Cyril Ndifon.
Justice James Omotosho set the date after counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Osuobeni Akponimisingha, and defence counsel, Joe Agi (SAN), adopted their final written addresses.
Our correspondent reports that, Ndifon, who was suspended by UNICAL,following allegations of sexual harassment against some female students, closed his defence after calling two witnesses to counter the claims by the ICPC.
Ndifon testified as the first defence witness (DW-1), while CSP Babagana Mingali, a forensic analyst at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), appeared as DW-2.
Our correspondent recalls that Justice Omotosho had, on March 6, 2024, dismissed the no-case submission filed by Ndifon and his co-defendant, Sunny Anyanwu, ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against them and ordered both defendants to enter their defence.
The ICPC filed a four-count amended charge against Ndifon and Anyanwu, a member of Ndifon’s former legal team, alleging sexual harassment, cybercrime, and an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
The prosecution alleged that Ndifon, while serving as Dean, asked a female Diploma student, identified as “TKJ” and the star witness, to send him pornographic and indecent photographs of herself via WhatsApp.
Anyanwu was accused of threatening the same witness through a phone call during the pendency of the case. Both defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The ICPC closed its case on February 14, 2024, after its fourth witness, Bwaigu Fungo, a forensic and intelligence analyst with the commission, was cross-examined by the defence.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
